Governing Council awards €4.8 million to support charity sector social intervention
The Governing Council has approved funding to boost third sector activities in the field of social intervention in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country for 2026. The total funding allocation amounts to €4,792,480.
This initiative aims to support the third sector and social and community development, empowering organisations to deliver projects with a direct impact on social cohesion.
Almost €4 million pledged for basic material assistance
The Council has also approved basic material assistance, a programme aimed at supporting families with dependent minors in situations of high vulnerability. This support will be delivered via cards or vouchers exchangeable for food and personal hygiene products.
The programme has a maximum budget of almost €4 million to finance material assistance, accompanying measures and technical assistance under the ESF+ 2022-2027.
Spokesperson Maria Ubarretxena stated: "The scheme ensures aid is granted to applicants until 31 December 2026, with an amount that can be adjusted quarterly based on the household's actual circumstances.”
In this area, the Governing Council also approved the collaboration agreement between the Basque Government and Barakaldo Town Council to continue a comprehensive pilot project that seeks to promote youth independence through the youth support network, with the participation of young people in a context of social and demographic transition. The agreement is based on the Basque Country's exclusive jurisdiction on youth matters and is proposed as a continuation of the agreement signed on 29 December 2023, by means of a modification and extension annex that maintains the line of work already initiated. The funding allocation linked to the agreement amounts to €890,000.
Finally in this area, the Governing Council was notified of the addendum extending the collaboration agreement between the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge and the Spanish Red Cross. The organisation will continue in 2026 as a collaborating entity in the management of the basic material aid programme co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). The maximum amount ring-fenced to finance the programme in 2026 amounts to almost €4 million and is distributed between expenditure on products included in the basic material assistance, accompanying measures and technical assistance, in coherence with the ESF+ programming 2021-2027.
Funding to support trade union activity
The Governing Council today approved aid to support the operations of the trade unions represented in the Administration of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. The total investment for the project will amount to €432,000.
The 13 trade unions represented in the General Committee will be able to finance their expenses and their activities both in the Administration and in the General Committee from this allocation.
More than €577,000 allocated for workplace safety
The Council has approved a new call for grants totalling more than €577,000 to carry out activities in the field of occupational risk prevention in the Basque Country during 2026, led by Osalan - Basque Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These grants are aimed at workers and companies, specifically small companies with fewer than 50 employees.
"The main objective of this initiative is to promote both intersectoral and sectoral actions that contribute to the improvement of health and safety in the workplace," explained Ubarretxena.
Training schemes for unions and employers' organisations
Additionally, the Governing Council has approved the modification of the decree that regulates the granting of subsidies to trade unions and business organisations for the development of training plans. These aim to improve the qualifications of the people linked to these entities in subjects related to their areas of activity.
The amendment responds to the need to adapt this regulation to the provisions of the Law Regulating the Subsidies Regime, thus guaranteeing the continuity of the training plans.
Direct grant to Red Cross
Another issue approved by the Governing Council was the award of a direct grant to the International Red Cross in the amount of €300,000 to support the humanitarian response to the population affected by the conflict in all the Palestinian territories.
The aid aims to "address urgent humanitarian needs and is granted without the requirement for guarantees, given the nature and urgency of the action, reaffirming the Basque Country's commitment to humanitarian action and the protection of the civilian population," explained Minister Ubarretxena.
Memorandum of Understanding with Fukushima (Japan)
Finally, the Governing Council endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed with the Government of Fukushima Prefecture (Japan), with the aim of continuing and strengthening economic cooperation between the two parties.
This agreement will deepen institutional and business relations in the fields of energy, with special emphasis on renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy storage technologies; biotechnology; Industry 4.0 and gastronomy.
This Memorandum is a further step in the close ties that the Basque Country has with Japan and with the Fukushima prefecture.
