Mark Drakeford, the chief minister of Wales, visited the Basque Country this week, where he met with the Lehendakari, Inigo Urkullu, and participated in a conference on demographic and social transition. The Basque government has managed to add the Labor Executive of Wales to the cause of the Atlantic Macroregion Project, with which it tries to gain influence in a more complex and competitive Europe.
– In May, the General Assembly of the Atlantic Arch Commission is held at Cardiff. What do you expect from this meeting?
– It is a fundamental meeting to promote cooperation between the agencies of the region. We must strengthen our initiatives to be a key player in the future of Europe.
– But the European Union looks more and more to the east.
– There is a war on the border and it is understandable, but the Atlantic Arc can offer solutions to those problems. The invasion of Ukraine generated instability. In this perspective, we can offer industry security and price stability. Without a doubt, the role of the Atlantic Ocean as a source of renewable energy must be promoted.
– Our predecessor signed a memorandum of understanding with the Basque government in 2018. What do you think?
– We had to move forward in the extraordinary conditions generated by the pandemic. Wales and the Basque Country have much in common. Cooperation in the preservation of the language, the dissemination of culture and how to counter the demographic challenge are key. Now we have to think about how to face the challenges of the future, renewing forces, perhaps the most serious. If we can, we will sign a new memorandum in 2024.
– What do you expect from the Spanish presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year?
– Great hope. Spain has the ability to mobilize significant diplomatic resources. I would like to promote the Atlantic axis as a source of renewable energy. Undoubtedly, the war in Ukraine will continue to affect the security industry and make life more expensive.
Brexit
“The United Kingdom must look again, even if it cannot return to the Union.”
– Do you believe that Rishi Sunak, the new prime minister of Britain, will facilitate a better understanding with the EU?
– The agreement on the Northern Ireland protocol is satisfactory, but it should be the beginning and not the end. There are many things to be corrected which are not supposed to have been carried out in the original agreement. The UK should look again at Europe, even if a return to the EU is unlikely in the near future.
– Brexit, the rise of independence in Scotland and voices in favor of reunification in Ireland. on the contrary Labor holds in Wales.
– Wales is a center-left nation that believes in collective solutions to common problems. Brexit and the Conservative Party have deepened existing divisions. There are strong arguments for staying in the UK, but people need to be convinced of the benefits. In recent years, I have not seen any government working in that area.
– What then are the governments of this place?
– The closer the government is to the communities, the easier it is to persuade. For this, it is necessary to develop their competences. For example, Wales has the second best recycling rate in Europe, which was unthinkable 20 years ago. This is because we have put in place the necessary infrastructure for management, but also because we believe in close governance.
Welsh and Basque
“We must move the use of laughter as a linguistic supporter.”
his own language
– What are the key strategies to preserve languages such as Basque or Welsh?
We must invest in education. In Wales there are many more children teaching Welsh than twenty years. The use of language in such a way that it can be used in any key space. We have invested a lot of time in finding new spaces where people can use the language in their daily lives.
– For example?
– The game is key and it makes it easier to have your teams. We tried to claim the Welsh in qualifying for the World Cup. Thus we express our identity in the marketplace. If we sign a new memorandum, we will have to influence the use of sport as a linguistic supporter.
“Renewable energy has helped the rural population”
– How should demographic aging be addressed?
– We must give older people the ability to continue working flexibly and with reduced hours. Young people are going to be in short supply and we cannot waste their talent. We must ensure their entry into the labor market with programs such as Universal Basic Income.
– The countryside has been emptied by the journey of young people to the cities.
– It is important to make those places attractive. Fortunately, it is the most suitable for developing renewable energy in the rural environment. In 20 years we will see an increase in the rural population of wind and marine energy.
– Will green energy be enough in the fight against climate change?
– We are doing a good challenge, without a doubt. Sometimes I think people are faster than politicians. We have a vehicle to return to use. As a measure in Wales we will build no roads in this legislature and use the money to promote public debt.
– We must give older people the ability to continue working flexibly and with reduced hours. Young people are going to be in short supply and we cannot waste their talent. We must ensure their entry into the labor market with programs such as Universal Basic Income.
– The countryside has been emptied by the journey of young people to the cities.
– It is important to make those places attractive. Fortunately, it is the most suitable for developing renewable energy in the rural environment. In 20 years we will see an increase in the rural population of wind and marine energy.
– Will green energy be enough in the fight against climate change?
