The Basque Government has said that within two weeks it will respond to the request from the councils of Hernani and Astigarraga to set up an inter-institutional round table to address the “collateral damage” of the “txotx” season, but has stressed that the cider sector must be represented in that forum. The mayors of Hernani, Xabier Lertxundi, and Astigarraga, Xabier Urdangarin, met the Provincial Council’s councillor for Green Territorial Balance, Xabier Arruti, on 1 February, and last Wednesday the Basque Government’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy, Bittor Oroz, to discuss the matter, according to a joint statement issued today by both councils.