Organized in collaboration with the General Assemblies of Bizkaia and the Iura Vasconiae Foundation, this academic event primarily aims to commemorate the fifth centenary of the approval of the New Charter of 1526. The institutional opening was attended by Ana Otadui Biteri, president of the General Assemblies of Bizkaia, Idoia Otaegui Aizpurua, director of UPV Summer Courses, and Itziar Alkorta Idiakez, co-director of the seminar and president of Iura Vasconiae.
The three speakers emphasized the significance of this legal text in shaping the territory's identity, self-governance, and liberties. During the event, a dozen experts will participate in four round tables, examining universal capacity, representation systems, and Bizkaia's community organization, comparing them with other European models.
This year's edition will also feature an important documentary discovery: the “Commentaria ad veram intelligentiam legum fori de Vizcaya” (1725), an 18th-century work. Experts Jon Arrieta and Imanol Merino will analyze the document, moderated by Jose Luis Aurtenetxe, former chief legal counsel of the General Assemblies.
Additionally, attendees can enjoy cultural offerings. The Library of the House of Juntas will host a historical exhibition on the New Charter for a month. To conclude the program, the Alara string quartet from the ESAS network will perform a concert today, honoring the second centenary of the start of the House of Juntas' construction and Pablo Sarasate's historic 1894 concert.
