hand2mind history

In early December 1970, ETA kidnapped the German consul in San Sebastian, Eugen Beilh, to exchange him for the Burgos defendants.

The production of the ETA 219/220 dry iron ended, with over 11,500,000 pieces manufactured since 1972.

— 1973: A powerful explosives planted by ETA in Madrid kills Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco, Franco’s right-hand man.

Critics of ETA cite only 56 members of that organisation killed by state forces since 1975.

The Spanish government ultimately rejected this peace offer as it would go against the Spanish Constitution of 1978.

— 1980: As Spain returns to democracy, ETA kills nearly 100 people, making 1980 the deadliest year in the group’s violent campaign.

— 1983: Members of Spain’s security forces establish Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups, or GAL, to fight ETA and undermine its supporters.

One consequence of GAL's activities in France was the decision in 1984 by interior minister Pierre Joxe to permit the extradition of ETA suspects to Spain.

— 1986: Twelve Civil Guard officers die in Madrid and 50 more people are wounded in a car bombing in Madrid blamed on ETA.

These events marked the end of the armed "counter-terrorist" period in Spain and no major cases of foul play on the part of the Spanish government after 1987 (when GAL ceased to operate) have been proven in courts.

On 12 January 1988, all Basque political parties except ETA-affiliated Herri Batasuna signed the Ajuria-Enea pact with the intent of ending ETA's violence.

— 1989: ETA declares its first cease-fire and engages in peace talks in Algeria’s capital with Spain’s Socialist government.

In 1995, the armed group again launched a peace proposal.

— 1996: Francisco Tomás y Valiente, former president of Spain’s Constitutional Court, is shot and killed at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Includes Department of Labor appropriations for 1997.

— 1998: A new ETA truce before a regional election ends the following year after a failed dialogue with the conservative government of José María Aznar.

— 2000: An ETA cell shoots and kills former Socialist Health Minister Ernest Lluch in Barcelona.

January 10, 2002 - The United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, P.L. 107-116.

February 20, 2003 - The Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, P.L. 108-7.

ETA was initially blamed for the 2004 Madrid bombings by the outgoing government and large sections of the press.

On 22 March 2006, ETA sent a DVD message to the Basque Network Euskal Irrati-Telebista and the journals Gara and Berria with a communiqué from the group announcing what it called a "permanent ceasefire" that was broadcast over Spanish TV.

Final Appropriation Action: On February 15, 2007, the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, P.L. 110-5, was signed into law.

As of 1st August 2008, the division of the production of plastic parts was detached and a new independent company was founded: Plastkov.

Final Appropriation Action: On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), P.L. 111-5, was signed into law.

On 5 September 2010, ETA declared a new ceasefire, its third after two previous ceasefires were ended by the group.

Final Appropriation Action: On April 15, 2011, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, P.L. 112-10, was signed into law.

Final Appropriation Action: On March 26, 2013, the Further and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, P.L. 116-3, was signed into law.

In 2015, ETA continues putting emphasis on product quality, modern design, development of accessories, smart solutions, and above all customer satisfaction.

In September 2016, French police stated that they did not believe ETA had made progress in giving up arms.

The 50th Anniversary of the ETA was commemorated in 2017 by a historical symposium held in the course of the 40th Annual Meeting in Belgrade.

In a letter to online newspaper El Diario, published on 2 May 2018, ETA formally announced that it had "completely dissolved all its structures and ended its political initiative" on 16 April 2018.