A nonprofit organization, the Institute of Social Reintegration of Euskadi (IRSE-EBI), has been commissioned by the Basque Government to facilitate meetings between ETA prisoners and their victims as part of a restorative justice initiative. This program, supported with significant funding of 235,000 euros since 2023, is seen as a step towards renewing bonds within the community while addressing past grievances caused by terrorism. The initiative has become a focal point of discussion as it also relates to the potential release of certain prisoners under semi-freedom provisions.

The program was established following the transfer of prison authority to the Basque Country, allowing local governance to explore mechanisms for reconciliation between perpetrators and victims. As discussions unfold, concerns have been raised by some stakeholders, who perceive the effort as poorly executed or as inadequate to genuinely address the complexities of the trauma inflicted by ETA's violent past. Specific cases, like that of former ETA leader Mikel Garikoitz Aspiazu (Txeroki), highlight the potential implications of this program, particularly as it pertains to their early release from prison under new regulations.

While authorities advocate for restorative justice as a means to foster understanding and healing, the reactions from the community remain mixed, with some questioning the fairness of the approach and whether it sufficiently honors the suffering of victims. This ongoing dialogue around the program underscores a broader societal struggle in the Basque Country concerning guilt, rehabilitation, and the quest for peace, revealing deep divides that persist from decades of violence and conflict.