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Speaking before EU Industry Ministers on Monday, Patxi López defended the Basque industrial sector''s commitment to the manufacture of electric cars, which could offer a solution to the problem of climate change. The Basque premier assured ministers that it was "not simply a business project, but a country''s decision".

López was making his short speech to welcome ministers of Industry and their respective delegations to a reception and official dinner offered at the Miramar Palace in Donostia-San Sebastián as part of the recent summit.

Addressing ministers, the lehendakari used the occasion to present the Basque Country as "a dynamic, modern and competitive country" thanks to the combined work of local firms and centers of technology.

The Basque leader also described Basque society as "open and comprehensive to cultures" and underlined its ability to adapt to the times and reuse available resources in order to face new challenges. "The transforming combination of past and future is surely our best selling point".

"Societies (such as ours) which do not have at their disposition natural resources can only rely on our own people. This is what made the Basques an enterprising and industrial people, of which we are proud," he added.

The car industry

López went on to stress the strength of the Basque Country''s energy and car industry sectors, and announced a joint commitment to the design, development and manufacture of electric cars. "We have made a decided pledge to develop the electric vehicle along the lines of a business framework which has functioned efficiently in the car industry."

Basque Country and the electric vehicle

The development of the electric vehicle could turn the Basque Country into one of the industry leaders in a sector in which it has already closed a number of strategic deals:

Mercedes will begin manufacturing electric vans at its site in Vitoria-Gasteiz as of the last quarter of 2010, after assuming a 15 million euro investment to adapt production lines in its factory.

Furthermore, by 2011 the Basque Country will have established a pioneer network of recharging stations for electric vehicles, without which the kinds of vehicles being proposed would not be viable.

Also on Monday, the president of the Basque Automotive Industry (ACICAE), Julian Hernado, and that of the Basque Energy Sector (CE), Josu Jon Imaz, signed an agreement to cooperate in improving capabilities in relation to electric vehicles and recharging systems.

The San Sebastian declaration

The summit of Euro ministers being held in San Sebastian will end on Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, the "Donostia-San Sebastian Declaration" was agreed upon, which is intended to boost the role played by science and research in the recovery and growth of the economy.

The document could be approved in a future cabinet meeting between European ministers.