Andoni Ortuzar, President of the EBB (Governing Council) of the EAJ-PNV (Basque National Party) and Vice-President of the European Democratic party (EDP), has advocated the construction Basque Euro-region spanning the Bidasoa River that can contain “all the territories where Basque is spoken” and "foster co-operation between our peoples and the different administrative realities on both sides of the Pyrenees. A Euro-region that can cultivate and develop the enormous economic, cultural and tourist-related potential of the Basque lands and act as a fulcrum for the whole Atlantic rim from Finisterre in Galicia to Finistère in Brittany". Mr. Ortuzar said this at the opening of a meeting with experts in cross-border co-operation organised by Sabino Arana Fundazioa and the Institute of European Democrats (IED) to analyse the process of European integration, its current position and its future prospects. He shared the duty of opening this event with Aitor Kerejeta, Mayor of Hondarribia, Mikel Antón, a member of the IED’s Governing Council and Juan María Atutxa, Chair of Sabino Arana Fundazioa.