Erein programs 10.17 million euros for rural areas

Amaya Barredo Martín, Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, has called for grants for the promotion and development of rural areas in the Basque Country for the 2026 call, known as the Erein program. The call was published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) on September 11, 2026, in issue number 174, with official reference 2026/3868, and was approved by an order dated August 27, 2026.

The grants are located within the framework of the PEPAC 2023-2027 strategic plan, specifically in the intervention titled “Investments in basic rural services.” This plan was approved by the European Commission on August 31, 2022, via Decision C(2022) 6017, and is implemented in the Basque Country by Decree 66/2024, dated May 28, 2024. The call is based on Law 7/2022 (Rural Development Law) and Law 20/2023 (Subsidies Law).

Financing and budget

The call allocates a total of 10,170,072.00 euros. Of this, 1,250,000 euros are co-financed by the EAFRD fund at 80% (1,000,000 euros) and by the General Administration of the Basque Country at 20% (250,000 euros). The remaining 8,920,072 euros come from the General Budgets of the Basque Country as additional national financing approved in the PEPAC 2023-2027.

Payment credit for the 2026 call: 1,308,888 euros.
Commitment credit for 2027: 8,861,184 euros.
The total amount may be increased up to 40% by resolution of the vice-minister.

Beneficiaries and eligible activities

The beneficiaries are public law entities: city councils, councils, mancomunidades, cuadrillas of Álava and other local entities, as well as the local institutional public sector and Rural Development Associations, when they sign cooperation agreements with local entities.

Eligible activities include:

Water supply and sanitation, and electricity and gas supply.
Use of renewable energies and energy saving.
Tourism-related infrastructure: interpretation centers, museums, approved trails, and parking areas for motorhomes.
Basic services: day centers and residences for the elderly, nurseries, and pharmacies.
Leisure, culture, and sports: cultural centers, libraries, and sports facilities.
Urbanization of small industrial estates.

The minimum eligible cost per project is 6,000 euros, and the maximum amount of the grant is 300,000 euros.

Evaluation and deadlines

The grants will be awarded through a competitive process, with scoring provided by an Evaluation Committee. A project must obtain at least 50 points to be eligible for the grant, and the percentage of the grant depends on the score, ranging from 40% (50 points) to 80% (100 points). The evaluation takes into account the level of vulnerability, the need for zone development, economic-financial viability, and environmental commitment.

Applications must be submitted within one month, starting from the day following the publication of the order in the BOPV, through the electronic headquarters of the Public Administration of the Basque Country. The maximum period to resolve the procedure is six months, and the resolution will be published in the BOPV.

This call is of great importance for the rural areas of the Basque Country, as it provides the opportunity to invest in infrastructure and services to improve the quality of life of the population, promote the recovery of towns, and strengthen territorial cohesion. Through PAC and EAFRD funds, public entities will be able to finance investments of interest to local communities without causing a significant impact on market competition.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del País Vasco, N.º 174, 2026-09-11, Otras Disposiciones, pp. 1-58 (official reference: 2026/3868).