The Basque Country secures the transfer of unemployment benefits and now demands control of the airports

BarcelonaThe Basque Country became the first region in Spain to assume responsibility for unemployment benefits this Friday. This is the result of an agreement reached... in extremis This Thursday, the Basque and Spanish governments signed an agreement granting the Basque Country, through the resources of the Economic Agreement, five new powers previously held by the central government. Beyond unemployment benefits, the Basque Country will also manage non-contributory family benefits from Social Security, Maritime Rescue, School Insurance, and the Machinery Verification Center in Barakaldo.

The agreement was finalized at a meeting of the Joint Transfer Commission. This morning's meeting had been uncertain due to disagreements between the two governments regarding the scope of the agreement. One point of contention was the financing of the five areas through the quota derived from the Economic Agreement. While awaiting the details, the most striking aspect was several conversations between the Lehendakari (President of the Basque Government), Imanol Pradales, and senior members of his cabinet with some ministers and even with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, according to the EFE news agency.

In recent weeks, the Basque government had intensified its criticism and even asked Sánchez to "put his house in order," believing that some state secretaries were obstructing the agreement. And this Friday, despite the understanding reached, Pradales did not back down. At an event in Vitoria, he warned that the Basques would not allow their self-government to be "perverted" and demanded that the Spanish government fully implement the Statute of Gernika.

A demand that is mandated "by law"

In this regard, the Lehendakari (President of the Basque Government) emphasized, among other things, the transfer of airport management. Despite admitting that it is a "delicate" issue, he made it clear that the Basque Country will not relinquish what is rightfully its "by law." However, the Spanish State is closing the door on this demand, which Catalonia is also making. For example, the president of Aena (the Spanish airport authority), Mauricio Lucena, insists that he will not budge on the transfer of airport management. "The transfer of airport management would be null and void," he explained.

Starting this Friday, the Basque Country will not only manage active employment policies, as other regions do, but will also be responsible for unemployment benefits, a power long demanded by the Basque government. As with airports, Catalonia has also repeatedly requested this power, but so far the Catalan government has not succeeded. For now, the Basque Country will be the only region managing unemployment payments.