Seven provinces straddling the north-western Pyrenees, three in France and four in Spain. Bilbao is the biggest city. The Basques have a unique, non-Indo-European language, Euskera, and many Basques believe they form a distinct nation, neither French nor Spanish. Three of the Spanish provinces enjoy extensive powers of self-government as the Basque Autonomous Community.

ETA: Euskadi ta Askatasuna (Basque Country and Liberty) started out in 1959 as a student group opposed to Franco's dictatorship and in favour of Basque independence. Became an armed leftist group in the 1960s, and killed Franco's prime minister in 1973. Does not recognise that Spain has become a democracy, and pursues complete Basque independence through violent means.