The main problem obviously lies in the fact that the Spanish government does not want to lose the Basque regions. The problem of the Basque separatist movement in Spain is not new, but it has become specially important since 1959, when a terrorist group called ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna – Basque Homeland and Liberty) was founded. It’s creation is due to the terrible oppression the Basque culture experienced during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (ADL, 2000). ETA has persisted in it’s violent campaign since then, has killed abou

There are various alternatives the Spanish state shuffles when it comes to resolving the Basque question. One is to leave the actual political situation as it is, and continue fighting against ETA as well as they can. This is of course the solution the state prefers, but the disadvantages are that ETA will continue killing and terrorizing, and neither will it satisfy the Basques. On the other hand this allows the Spanish state to keep control of some of their richest and most productive regions.

t 800 people and committed thousands of sabotages (J.Elzo, 1997), up to being now considered the most active armed separatist group in Western Europe (since the cease-fire of the Irish Republican Army) (ADL, 2000).

Another option is to reach some sort of agreement with PNV (Partido Nacional Vasco – the party that favors Basque self-determination by democratic means, also the most voted party by the Basque people), presumably granting the Basque territories an even bigger autonomy, but keeping them within the Spanish state (E.Asko, 2003). This is a solution that might satisfy the Basque people, but will almost surely not stop the ETA terrorists. Another problem is that this might not be enough to quieten the Basque desire for independence, and so this solution would not solve any of the problems at hand.

The last, and most radical solution to be considered, is that of issuing a poll

Some topics in this essay:
Spanish Government, Army ADL, Herri Batasuna, Spanish EAsko, Francisco Franco’s, Nacional Vasco, Spanish Basque, , Observatorio Barcelona, Homeland Liberty, spanish government, adl 2000, basque people, basque territories, basque nation, basque regions basque, barcelona 2001, observatorio barcelona, central government, satisfy basques, basque territory, observatorio barcelona 2001,