Etxepare Basque Institute welcomes official delegation from Flemish community in Brussels

During their visit they were shown the Tabakalera building and the Etxepare Basque Institute where they learned about the strategy for promoting the Basque language and culture.

A delegation of eight representatives visited the Basque Country to familiarize themselves with its linguistic landscape. During their visit, they held several meetings to gain insights into the region´s policies aimed at promoting the Basque language in the institutional, educational or economic spheres. While Flemish is the predominant language spoken by the Belgian population, representing around 60% of the total, the Brussels capital region is an exception, with only around 20% of its residents belonging to the Flemish-speaking community.

The delegation consists of parliamentarians from the Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The representatives met in Donostia with Etxepare Basque Institute director, Irene Larraza, and with the director of Tabakalera, Edurne Ormazabal, to familiarize themselves with the facilities of both venues and the strategies and actions for promoting the Basque language and culture.

Over the course of the week, the delegation visited various institutions involved in the development of the Basque language, including the Etxepare Euskal Institute, the public body responsible for promoting Basque culture and language around the world. During the week they visited the Basque Parliament, the University of the Basque Country, the Mondragon Group, EITB Basque Radio and Television, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Euskaltzaindia (Royal Academy of the Basque Language), AEK, Topagunea and the sociolinguistic conference Udaltop.

This visit and relationship is part of the Vlaanderen - Baskenland project. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen relations between Flanders and the Basque Country in the area of culture and contemporary creation. To this end, the Etxepare Basque Institute work to strengthen ties with cultural stakeholders and professionals in Flandes. The efforts stem from meetings held between creators and cultural stakeholders from both territories in 2021 and 2022. Vlaanderen Baskenland will take over in 2023 and 2024 with activities aimed at the dissemination of cultural in areas strategic for the Basque Country. Previous partner regions have included Scotland (Scotland Goes Basque)  and Quebec (Saison Quebec Pays Basque).