The Basque Government shall establish a Council of Religions of the Basque Country
The Basque Government will launch the Basque Council of Religions in the spring with the aim of managing religious diversity in the Basque Country. It will be born with an action plan based on coexistence and cooperative secularism.
The Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenges of theBasque Government has announced the creation of the Basque Council of Religions, which will bring together representatives of the main denominations currently in existence in the Basque Country, with the aim of promoting interreligious and intercultural coexistence on the basis of "religious pluralism and respect for the rights and duties of all its manifestations" and guided by the principle ofcooperative agility.
Counsellor Nerea Melgosa has explained that the regulation of the Basque Country's Council of Religions "will be approved in a few weeks at the Governing Council, which will holdits first meeting later this spring ".
This advisory body shall be the formal framework for initiatives and decisions that may affect religious and religious freedom in order to provide technical advice and participate in the design of public policies relating to religious diversity.
The Council shall also adopt a proactive model of knowledge of religious realities and the prevention of conflict situations in order to prevent situations that may lead to tension and prevent reactive responses or the socialization of hate speech.
Concrete action measures
For all these purposes, the Directorate for Diversity, Coexistence and Intergenerational Solidarity, with the advice of the Ellacuria Centre(an organization specializing in religious diversity), has designed an Action Plan for the next four years (2026-2029).
The plan includes specific lines of action, such as the autonomous planning of burialfor the adaptation of cemeteries and rites to different denominations, and the creation of a specific standard for the urban planning of places of worship, as well as the preparation of a calendar of holidays for all denominations in the Basque Country.
The Plan also provides for the development of a strategy to avoid stereotypes and prejudices about minority religions and religious pluralism in general.
The Basque Government also undertakes to guarantee the offer ofmenus adapted to religious food regulations in public centres, such as hospitals, residences and reception centres.
Lastly, efforts will be made to incorporate criteria for equality between women and men into the Basque Government's relations with religious institutions, especially in the subsidized processes and in the areas of institutional representation.
The Council aims to be a stable forum for dialogue and cooperation between the Basque public institutions (Basque Government, Member States and municipalities) and the various religious denominations present in the community.
In particular, eight religionsshall take part, with a declaration of notorious roots: Buddhist, Islamic, Catholic, Evangelical, Romanian Orthodox, Bahia, Jesus Christ of the Saints of the last few days and Jehovah's Witnesses, and other minority religions and institutions promoting interreligious dialogue.
Photo of religions in the Basque Country
According to the data provided by the Barometer on Religion and Beliefs of the Spanish State, in 2025, a social majority of the Basque population (53%) claims not to be attached to any religion and 42% acknowledge having religious beliefs. Among those who belong to any religion, Catholic adherence continues to prevail (34%).
Today, according to the Basque Country's Map of Religions, 6-7% of the population belongs to other non-Catholic denominations, such as 4.0% Muslim, 1.1% Evangelical and 1.0% Orthodox. This diversity is also expressed on the map of places of worship, with more than 300 active in 2024, excluding those of the Catholic Church.
Although some of this diversity is associated with recent migratory flows, it cannot be understood from this perspective alone. According to the Basque Government, there are persons of foreign origin who adhere to minority religions and identify with the main religions; 42.9% follow the Catholic religion, 17.9% follow the Muslim religion, 9.8% are evangelical and 8.4% are orthodox.
You might like
A 36-year-old Basque mountaineer was seriously injured in Asturias when a rock fell as he climbed
Apparently, the stone has fallen about 300 metres above where the woman was, who has suffered severe head trauma and has been transferred to the Asturias General University Hospital (HUCA).
Hundreds of people received the Freedom Flotilla ship in the Basque Country
He plans to stay in the Basque Country until Tuesday, the 8th, when he will leave for Vigo and then continue to other areas of the Mediterranean. During the ship's stay in Bilbao, various events have been organised, including conferences, performances, a Palestinian fair and a press conference with activists from the flotilla.
A 25-year-old woman has been arrested in Elciego on charges of running over her partner
He has been charged with attempted murder in the area of domestic violence. The incident took place around 7.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The detainee has been transferred to police stations and, once the proceedings have been completed, will be brought before the court.
A 20-year-old boy died on Lekeitio's Geese Day after falling off a fence; the celebration was suspended
The young man, who was in the harbor following the test of geese, has fallen from a height of about two metres. Thousands of people have gathered in Lekeitio today and the event was developing normally until the accident.
Nearly 4,000 people have gathered at the Sagardo Eguna in Donostia
They have the opportunity to taste cider from 32 cider shops in Gipuzkoa. They have threatened the day with music from trikitilaris and bertsolaris. One of the most emotional moments has been the act of tribute to Jabier Ansorena and Marian Matas.
September 5th has been declared Local Democratic Memory Day in Irun
The Irun City Council has declared 5 September as Local Democratic Memory Day, with the support of all the political groups of the City Council, which today commemorated all the Iranians who suffered a military coup, war and dictatorship.
The Ertzaintza arrested a man in Urduliz accused of throwing bottles at three people
The attack took place at around 6.20 p.m. near the metro station, where a group of some 200 people had gathered in the vicinity, and the detainee had previously been arrested for similar events.
Three people have been arrested in Gernika on charges of forcing a 14-year-old pregnant girl to marry
An investigation is also under way into a 17-year-old, the alleged father of the child, who has not been located.
Tests on the Mole's underground passage trains begin next week
The infrastructure will be available by Christmas, according to the forecasts of the Basque Government.
The alleged perpetrator of Barakaldo's murder is still at the police station awaiting testimony before the judge
The Ertzaintza continues to investigate, and early hypotheses suggest that "sentimental" may be the cause of the incident.