The Eurobask Movement, celebrating their 60th anniversary, recently organised a conference in Bilbao on the theme "The Utopia Continues", discussing Europeanism with particular reference to the Basque country (PDF programme).
Diogo Pinto, Secretary General of the European Movement International (EMI), participated in the celebrations and gave a speech on "European Federalism: A model for the 21st century?".  
José María González Zorrilla, President of Eurobask Movement, remarked that “Today we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Eurobask, named at the time of its foundation Consejo Vasco por la Federación Europea (Basque Council for the European Federation).  In 1948, there were not many people that had the courage to promote a questioned and utopian project such as a united and peaceful Europe. The Basques paid the price for staying true to their principles: they went through exile, concentration camps, repression and poverty.  Their example shows us that Europe is first and foremost a utopia, an ideal, a commitment, a belief in democratic principles and values against any kind of savagery or totalitarianism.
“Throughout the last century, we have seen reappear in the heart of Europe some threats that we thought had disappeared such as racism, xenophobia and limitations on freedom of speech. Behind these phenomena lies a fear of globalisation and immigration that can lead us to the edge of the abyss. That is why, in view of the 60th anniversary of the Eurobask movement, the Basques want to recall what Anatole France once said: “Utopia is the principle of all progress, and the essay into a better future”.  It could seem an audacity or a provocation but it is the only way to move forward.
“The Lisbon Treaty appears to be insufficient as it doesn’t have a permanent rescue system needed to overcome the deep financial crisis faced by the Eurozone. We don’t believe that new Strategies or Treaties are enough to solve these problems. A real debate on our socioeconomic models is necessary.
“We cannot confuse Europe, a great humanist project, with the European Union, which is just an incomplete and imperfect achievement of the dream of all the founding fathers and Europeanists. We need to reconsider and redefine many concepts that have been outdated by the dramatic changes brought by globalisation such as trade, borders and protectionism. We have been warned by the risks of confusing the opening of borders and the elimination of trade barriers with progress and economic growth.
“We have learnt over the last few months that the euro is a key element in the European project. It is a solution, not a problem. Without the Euro, it is impossible to maintain this social model and achieve a project that has brought Europe 60 years of peace.
“The Basques share the ambitions of the Europeanists: improve the political and federal Europe as well as the economic governance but keep alive our unique social model and our commitment to democracy and human rights. Democracy and social justice cannot be an obstacle to economic growth.  Besides, we cannot accept that competitiveness is based on salary cuts.
“We have to think about a better Europe. We have to think how we can overcome the current economic crisis, the high unemployment rates and the lack of prospects for the youth. We have to think about how to stay committed to our democratic values, freedom, diversity and solidarity. And then we will be able to make a new and better Europe capable of going through difficult economic situations without giving up on its social model. The Basques want to be again the driving force behind Europe’s capacity of replacing fear by hope.”
More information:
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