The president presents five "country commitments" for the legislature

Lehendakari Imanol Pradales has set five major "country commitments" as the centrepiece of the Basque Government's action: climate change, artificial intelligence, competitiveness and quality employment, education and comprehensive well-being.

Pradales has said that these areas require broad responses and has announced new investments, plans and agreements for the coming years. "We do not want to confine ourselves to managing whatever comes. We wantto build the best possible future for the Basque Country, "he said.

The first commitment he has announced is climate change. In the face of rising temperatures, he has stressed that prevention and adaptation must be combined. "The data leave no room for doubt," Pradales said, before recalling that 2025 was a "very hot" year and that heat waves have increased. The Basque Government has allocated EUR 430 million to various adaptation activities, but the lehendakari has considered it "insufficient" and has announced an investment of EUR 340 million.

The plan will include efficient and sustainable air conditioning systems for homes and public buildings, linked to renewable generation equipment, and thermal comfort activities in schools, hospitals and health centres. This budget will also strengthen early warning systems and flood infrastructure. The primary sector will have a specific climate change adaptation plan and will receive an emergency fund with an initial allocation of EUR 50 million.

The second commitment concerns artificial intelligence, which the president has said is undergoing a revolution in this area, and which is difficult to anticipate: "These are disruptive technologies that are bringing about profound and rapid changes," he said.

Faced with this uncertainty, the government will push for a Popular Artificial Intelligence Strategy , developed in a participatory manner with experts and social partners.

The third commitment concerns competitiveness and quality employment, and Pradales has explained that "wealth generation is the key to building an advanced and just country"because"without wealth there is no well-being, no social cohesion, no chance of overcoming social gaps."

In this area, it has called for greater involvement of companies and trade unions and has announced that the government will present the results of its work on absenteeism and then seek a "country agreement" through social dialogue.

It has also advocated progress on the Interprofessional Minimum Wage and has focused on young people to demandthat companies offer "attractive conditions and career paths".

"The priority is to improve the results of the education system," he stressed, before acknowledging that the measures taken so far have not achieved the intended objectives. "The results of the PISA report are unmitigated. They are not what we want for the Basque Country. And we cannot accept it."

In this regard, the Government intends to strengthen reading and mathematics skills in particular, to increase student monitoring and to ensure daily reading at all stages of education.

The fifth and final commitment has been to comprehensive well-being. La user has said that he understands not only from a material or health point of view, but also from an emotional and community point of view. "Our goal is to be well and feel good so that we can live well," explains Pradales. This commitment has been structured around three major areas: health and emotional well-being, screens and families.

A new framework of positive coexistence and safe environment will also be adopted toaddress bullying, harassment and cyberbullying .

The use of screens and social networks among minors will have a specific strategy. Pradales has defended a vision that combines regulation, education and family responsibility and has announced that the Basque Government will adhere to European recommendations in this area. Euskadi will ask the European Commission to participate as a pilot territory.

In fact, the European Commission is considering a legislative proposal in this area, known as the 'Kids Act ' , which aims to strengthen the protection of minors in the digital environment. The recommendations include the gradual use of screens according to age. The report proposes not to install screens from zero to two years and from three to six years for a maximum of one hour a day. It also proposes limiting access to social networks to 15 years.

But Pradales has particularly highlighted another aspect: "Education and empowerment instead of prohibition. "He believes that the problem cannot be solved solely by prohibitions or regulation, adding that these measures" challenge "the public and place the focus on the environment of families and minors.

In this regard, the Basque Government will send a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressing its commitment to this strategy, including this issue in its bilateral agenda with the Spanish Government.

It has also committed itself to reviewing the digital strategy of the Basque education system and the use of screens to bring them into line with European recommendations.

Finally, it has announced a major Basque Social Agreement for the responsible use of screens, with the aim of involving parents and disseminating the guidelines of European experts. The government will work with family associations and parents' associations to bring the debate to the social and political level.

The third axis of comprehensive well-being will be families. The "FamilyK" program aims, among other things,to reduce the burdens of upbringing . It includes support measures from pregnancy and early years of life.