New 1.5 million euro aid line for social economy enterprises

The Basque Government has opened an extraordinary aid line of 1.5 million euros for social economy companies that have suffered economic damages due to the war in the Near East, issuing the call for 2026. The Order of August 28, 2026, of the Department of Economy, Labor and Employment approves the bases and the call for these grants, and was published in the BOPV number 172 on September 9, 2026.

The measure is part of the Basque Industrial Shield (Escudo Industrial) package of measures approved by the Governing Council on March 17, 2026, to address the social and economic losses caused by the conflict in the Near East. The Order was signed by Miguel Torres Lorenzo, second vice president and Minister of Economy, Labor and Employment, and is based on the credit provided by Law 7/2025 budgets.

Beneficiaries and conditions

The beneficiaries are labor societies and cooperatives operating mainly in the Basque Country that have suffered losses directly caused by the war. The countries affected by the conflict are:

• Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Companies must be up to date with tax and Social Security obligations, not be prohibited from receiving public aid, have an equality plan (where required), and not relocate, among other requirements.

Eligible expenses

The grants cover the following losses directly linked to the war:

• Uncollectible invoices from customers in the countries affected by the conflict.
• Direct costs of employees working in the conflict countries, not covered by insurance or mutual funds.
• Firm orders for materials or products that cannot be exported or reused.
• Loss of uninsured fixed assets (according to the net book value).
• Increase in the cost of raw materials directly linked to the war.
• Increase in energy and transport costs linked to the war.

To calculate the increase in costs, the period from February 1 to October 30, 2026, is considered eligible, compared to the average of the same period in 2024 and 2025.

Amounts and deadlines

The grants will cover up to 50% of the losses, and the allocation is divided between two groups:

• For companies with up to 50 employees, a maximum of 10,000 euros per beneficiary.
• For companies with more than 50 employees, a maximum of 20,000 euros per beneficiary.

Applications can be submitted electronically until October 30, 2026 (inclusive), and a single payment will be made after the award. Justification documentation must be submitted before November 14, and the resolution must be issued within a period of six months.

This call is of particular importance for the social economy of the Basque Country, as cooperatives and labor societies constitute a significant part of the region’s business network. For companies operating in markets affected by the war, the aid provides breathing room in the face of direct losses caused by the conflict, and is situated within the strategy of the Basque Industrial Protection.

Source: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, number 172, September 9, 2026, Other provisions (official reference: 2026/3837).