The Basque Government will allocate 755,800 euros to strengthen the associated structure of the social economy

The Department of Economy, Labor and Employment of the Basque Government has approved the bases and call for 2026 grants to strengthen the associative structure of social economy enterprises and entities. Miguel Torres Lorenzo, Second Vice-President and Commissioner of Economy, Labor and Employment, signed the Order of September 30, which was published in issue number 192 of the Official Gazette of the Basque Country on October 7, 2026, with official reference 2026/4144. The call has an allocation of 755,800 euros, and the deadline for submitting applications is one month, starting from the day following its publication.

The Order originates from the Strategic Grant Plan of the Department of Economy, Labor and Employment for the 2025-2028 period, approved by the Order of February 14, 2025, and updated for 2026, and is consistent with the 2026 budget report. The legal context consists of Law 20/2023, of December 21, regulating the Grant Regime, the basic manuals of Law 38/2003, and Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations. The credit is supported by Law 7/2025, of December 23, approving the General Budgets of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country for 2026, and was issued after consulting the General Council of Cooperatives of the Basque Country. According to the Order, a strong associative network channels the results and opportunities of social economy enterprises.

Who is the beneficiary

The grants are aimed at associative entities that have their own legal personality, are associated to represent and defend the common interests of their members, and operate mainly in the Basque Country. Four collectives are distinguished:

• Labor companies (sociedades laborales) and worker cooperatives.
• Non-worker cooperatives, associative entities of a confederal nature, and organizations that integrate social economy entities.
• Associative entities of the solidarity economy and associations of special employment centers for social initiatives.
• Intersectoral organizations of self-employed workers with at least two years of seniority.

For the associative structure of cooperatives, the reference is Law 11/2019, of December 20, on Basque Cooperatives, through articles 163.1 and 164; for those of the solidarity economy, it is Law 5/2011, of March 29, on the Social Economy.

Amount and distribution by group

A total of 755,800 euros will be allocated: 566,850 euros as payment credit for 2026 and 188,950 euros as commitment credit for 2027. By group:

• Worker cooperatives and labor companies: 455,800 euros (341,850 euros in 2026 and 113,950 euros in 2027).
• Non-worker cooperatives and confederal entities: 100,000 euros (75,000 and 25,000).
• Solidarity economy and special employment centers for social initiatives: 150,000 euros (112,500 and 37,500).
• Intersectoral organizations of self-employed workers: 50,000 euros (37,500 and 12,500).

How the grant is calculated

It will be awarded through a competitive procedure, and the amounts will be calculated according to the percentage limits and maximum amounts of Base 10. In the first group, taking a base of 50,000 euros:

• 7 euros per worker member for the first 5,000 worker members, 6 euros from 5,001 to 10,000 and 5 euros from 10,001 onwards.
• 90 euros for each company representing a beneficiary entity.
• The maximum amount cannot be three times the amount corresponding to the least represented entity, nor can it be greater than 50% of the approved expenses.
• For the participation of institutional organizations, a maximum of 70,000 euros among all beneficiary entities, 8,750 euros per session and at least eight justified sessions.

In the other three collectives, 50% of the approved expenses will be financed, up to a maximum of 50,000 euros per requesting entity.

Requirements, deadlines and payment

• Applications shall only be submitted by electronic means, at the electronic headquarters of the Public Administration of the Basque Country, in Basque or Spanish.
• The deadline is one month, starting from the day after the order is published.
• The resolution must be notified within six months by the Vice-Minister for Labor and Social Security, as proposed by the Directorate of Social Economy.
• Payment will be split: 75% charged to the 2026 event and 25% in 2027, after the justification is submitted; the deadline for this is July 31, 2027.

Against the order, however, an appeal for reversal may be filed within one month before the second vice-president, or directly an administrative litigation appeal within two months in the High Court of Justice of the Basque Autonomous Community.

This call currently finances the institutional voice of the social economy sector, and this has a direct impact on the daily management of cooperatives and associations: it allows them to cover structural costs, but also requires strict justification and transparency obligations. Associations and cooperatives in the sector now have a one-month window to prepare the application.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del País Vasco, 192. zenbakia, 2026ko urriaren 7a, Otras Disposiciones, orr. 1-15 (erreferentzia ofiziala: 2026/4144).