Since 1866, the four chartered provincial governments made a move towards coordination and cooperation by designing a number of common projects. At San Sebastián, the Spanish General Prim ratified in 1869 his position in favour of the distinct status held by the Southern Basque Country (the "Sister Provinces") conditioned on their unambiguous attachment to Spain. However, the general was assassinated in the midst of political instability (1870), and soon on the 2nd Carlist War broke out again centred in the Basque Country (1872–76). At the end of it, the "fueros" were definitely abolished in the Basque Provinces (Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa), while Navarre's legal status was less affected.