The Governing Council has allocated €4 million for the development of three education-related programmes.

• At the press conference held after the Governing Council meeting, the spokesperson, María Ubarretxena, outlined the objectives of the new programmes, which include extending the vocational training period to include vocational training students, providing linguistic reinforcement for newly recruited students, and promoting entrepreneurial culture among vocational training students.
• Furthermore, two lines of aid amounting to €3.5 million for the primary sector have been approved.

At midday today, María Ubarretxena, the Government spokesperson, held a press conference during which she outlined the key agreements reached by the Governing Council during today's session.

He furthermore stated that, at the recommendation of the Education Department, three lines of financial assistance, amounting to a total of €4 million, have been approved.

The Governing Council has approved the allocation of nearly one million euros for the call for applications for grants to extend the stay in companies for vocational training students who are being trained in the Workplace Training module. As stated by the spokesperson, “the stays will occur between September and March of this academic year. Due to the call for applications, students will have the option to extend their stay for an additional three months following the conclusion of the module and until their evaluation.”

A total of 479 grants will be provided, with the maximum amount to be received by each pupil set at €1,800 net.

Furthermore, the Basque Government has approved the allocation of €2.7 million in subsidies for the implementation of language reinforcement programmes for newly recruited pupils. Ubarretxena stated that “this initiative’s objective is to address the needs of students who enter the education system without a command of the language. This is a tool of the Basque Education System, designed to guarantee equal opportunities and respect for diversity.”

Furthermore, the Governing Council has approved the proposal to provide grants for the promotion of entrepreneurial culture among students in their final year of vocational training. "At this stage, students have acquired the requisite technical knowledge of the sector and are able to develop a business idea with the assistance of the teaching staff," stated María Ubarretxena. The Basque Government has earmarked €166,000 for this assistance.

3 Million for the Primary Sector

In a separate development, the Basque Government has approved the decree for the creation of the Municipal Port Councils, which will be under the umbrella of the Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries. The Councils will be collegiate bodies for advice, consultation and debate. Ubarretxena outlined the remit of these bodies, which will be “to plan and develop port infrastructure, manage and operate the public port domain, modify and terminate necessary authorisations, and conserve, protect and defend the public port domain.”

Furthermore, the criteria for the 2024 call for applications for aid for the promotion of research, development and innovation of products from the agricultural, forestry and fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the Basque Country, within the framework of the BERRIKER programme, have been approved. A total of 2.5 million will be allocated for 2024 and 2025. As stated by Ubarretxena, “the objective is to enhance efficiency, bolster competitiveness, facilitate sustainable growth, and foster collaboration between these sectors within the CAV”.

The Governing Council has approved the allocation of €1 million to promote aid under the Gastrobikain programme, which aims to enhance the quality of gastronomy. The investment will be made in 2024 and 2025 to provide financial support for strategic gastronomic initiatives in the food and gastronomy sector. The spokesperson outlined two types of aid, one for young people who have recently graduated in gastronomy and plan to launch a new business, and the other for established gastronomic businesses with a reputation for excellence.

Furthermore, the Governing Council approved a new list of appointments and dismissals in the various departments of the Basque Government.