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Euskal Bandera Europako Bandera

The native lands of the Basque Language, Euskara, make up what is internationally known as The Basque Country. The term has no political meaning, but cultural. 7 historical territories form it, which are called historical because they were already independently organized before the creation of the States of France and Spain. Nowadays it is divided in 3 administrative structures: three of the territories conform in France what is known as Le Pays Basque (which means Basque Country in French) and as Iparralde in Basque language (which means The North), and within the State of Spain there are the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) (also known as Euskadi, made up of three territories as well) and the Community of Navarre (a single territory). By the word Basque Country French people are referring only to France, while Spanish are referring only to Spain. In Spain there is a tendency to mix and confuse the Basque Country and Euskadi, the former has just a cultural sense and the second one has a political meaning, which was created much later aiming to united defend the common interests of the until them always independent Basque territories. Navarre was founder of Euskadi, but due to the Second Republic of Spain first and due to the Dictatorship of Spain later, it is not currently part of it. However, Spanish Constitution, in recognition of the historic precedence, permits Navarre to join to Euskadi, if its will would be shown in a referendum. The following maps are helpful in understanding this complexity:

Basque Country in Europe Euskal Herriko hiriburuak Euskaraz Euskal Herriko Lurralde Administratiboak - Frantziarrak -EAErekin Euskal Herriko Lurralde Administratiboak - Frantziarrak -Euskadirekin Euskal Herriko hiriburuak Euskaraz

The Basque Country (the Country of the Basque Language) has characteristics of its own, which are neither French nor Spanish. Representative of these differentiated characteristics are mainly the language, natively known as Euskara, and the ikurrina (or Basque flag):

Eki-01

Last, though the states of France and Spain divided the Basque Country, the European Union unites it. Thus European sentiment is stronger rooted among Basque citizens than between the neighboring citizens. Even though the European flag was created and adopted by 47 states that made the Council of Europe, the European Union (made up of only 27 of those states) has also officially adopted it. Similar thing happens with the Basque flag, though it represents the Basque language and culture of the 7 territories of the Basque Country, Euskadi or the Basque Autonomous Community (made up of just 3 of the Basque territories) has also officially adopted it.

European flag
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