Basque Government increases HAZITEK programme funding to €120 million to boost Basque industry

The Cabinet of the Basque Government has authorised an increase of €27 million to the budget allocated to support industrial research for Basque companies through the Hazitek programme, in order to finance even more projects in addition to already financed in the first quarter of the year.

This decision sees the Basque Government meet one of the commitments adopted by the Industrial Defence Panel set up at the behest of the Basque Prime Minister, Lehendakari Imanol Pradales. The budgetary allocation for the program, managed by the SPRI Group, has risen from €93 to €120 million, increasing the commitment to industrial research by €27 million.

Investment of over €6 million for new primary school in Ispaster

The Basque Government has approved, in today's Cabinet meeting, the authorisation of a contract for the construction of the new Ispaster Public Infants’ and Primary School. A commitment for a total of €6,295,886.42 has been made.

This project falls under the framework of the Hezkuntza Eraiki 2030 strategy which looks to ensure that all schools in the Basque Country have modern accessible, sustainable spaces in line with the most advanced pedagogical methodologies. There was also a new expression of support for the Eskola Txikiak, small rural schools which form a network of their own with their own vision.

€3 million for fishing and aquaculture producer organisations

The Cabinet approved a call for grants worth a total of three million euros for the activities of the three fishing and aquaculture producer organisations - OPESCAYA, OPEGUI and OPPAO - within the common organization of the market for fishery and aquaculture products.

The Fisheries Producer Organisations are officially recognised associations formed by fishers or fisheries sector companies whose main aim is to organise the production and sale of fishing products in a sustainable, efficient and competitive manner.

Over €891,000 euros for social-employment inclusion projects

The Cabinet has today approved a direct grant of €891,000 for the for the piloting of the model of mixed itineraries for social-employment inclusion. This grant takes the form of a direct grant for reasons of public interest and on social, economic and humanitarian grounds.

Eight experimental projects will be financed so that their results can be replicated in assistance for persons at risk of exclusion across the Basque Country.

Grants for the transition to certified organic production

The Cabinet has approved the specifications of the call for applications for grants for transition to certified organic production for the year 2025. The budget amounts to a total of €300,000.

For the year 2025, there will be a call for grant applications for the transition to certified organic production supporting the drafting of the “Guides for Transition to Organic Production”, to conduct feasibility studies for projects for the transition to organic production, demonstrating activities and visits, the comprehensive advice for the transition to organic production, specialized advice on organic production, and the development of projects for the conversion of farms from conventional production to organic production.

Decree on working conditions for Ertzaintza staff

The Cabinet of the Basque Government today approved the Decree approving the Regulatory Agreement on working conditions for staff of the Ertzaintza, the Basque Police Force, for the years 2025-2028. This Regulatory Agreement, signed by the trade union negotiating committee in March, establishes the basic principles for the Ertzaintza of the future, improving and modernising the service provided to citizens.

The Basque Government will invest €45million on a progressive basis up to 2028 to strengthen the Ertzaintza of the future, providing for staggered pay rises up to 2028, adapted to the functions of each position while also driving continuous training for officers and specialisation in research and intelligence to tackle the new challenges facing today's society.

Direct grant to foster collaboration with French-speaking communities

The Cabinet of the Basque Government has approved a direct grant of €50,000 for the linguistic NGO Garabide Kultur Elkartea. The purpose of this grant is to foster linguistic cooperation with French-speaking communities.

This collaboration allows us to identify the challenges and opportunities for the Basque language. In recent years, work has been carried out focusing especially on collaboration with communities in South America, but on this occasion the aim is to foster the relationship with French-speaking communities and communities with their own language.

René Cassin Award 2025 for Human Rights

The Cabinet of the Basque Government today approved the 22nd edition of the René Cassin Award 2025, created in 2003 to publicly recognise actions to protect and promote Human Rights. This award, which comes with a €25,000 cash prize, seeks to reward both people and organisations for outstanding personal or professional commitments to the promotion, defence and dissemination of Human Rights.

Candidates can be proposed over the coming months and the award will be presented in December, coinciding with Human Rights Day on 10 December.