The Presidency will allocate 70,000 euros for innovative projects for Basque Houses

Ander Caballero Barturen, Secretary General for External Relations and Global Basque Country, signed resolution 2026/3980 on September 9, which was published in BOPV number 182 on September 23. The resolution establishes the regulatory bases for grants for innovation projects for Basque Houses, federations, and confederations and opens the call for 2026. The total budget for the call is 70,000 euros, with a maximum of 7,000 euros and a minimum of 300 euros per project.

Goal of generational renewal of the diaspora

The purpose of the call is to promote projects of an innovative nature in the field of the diaspora, to ensure generational renewal and to project an updated image of the global Basque community. Thus, the goal is to strengthen the Basque community abroad, as it is one of the strategic objectives of the Basque Government.

These grants are called annually and are included in the Strategic Plan for Grants for the 2024-2027 term of the Presidency, approved by the resolution of February 12, 2024. Likewise, they are included in the Annual Strategic Plan for Grants for 2026, approved by the resolution of March 26, 2026.

The resolution will be governed by the provisions of Law 20/2023 of December 21, which regulates the Grant Regime. Decree 388/2024 of November 26 establishes the organic and functional structure of the Presidency, and it is the responsibility of the Secretary General for External Relations and Global Basque Country to issue the call for grants within their area of competence.

Innovative projects and eligible expenses

According to the call, innovative projects are considered to be those that expand the usual activities of Basque houses, either in terms of activity areas (social, economic, human, beyond cultural) or in terms of inserting new ideas, products, services, or methods. The grants aim to take Basque houses beyond the concept of a traditional meeting space, turning them into active nodes of technology, sustainability, and inclusion.

Eligible expenses include:

• Personnel costs (salaries, social security, per diems, and other compensations).
• Purchase of materials.
• Rentals (spaces, staging).
• Advertising and public relations.
• Transport.
• Other external services.
• Other expenses necessary for the proper development of the activity.

Evaluation criteria

The call will be processed under a competitive bidding regime, and a maximum of 80 points will be awarded:

• Identification of need, level of innovation, and adaptation of the proposal: maximum 30 points.
• Expected impact: maximum 20 points.
• Feasibility of the project, based on the level of self-financing: maximum 20 points.
• Gender perspective in programs and activities: maximum 10 points.

Deadlines and procedures

• The deadline for submitting applications is one month, starting from the day following the publication of the resolution in the BOPV.
• Applications must be submitted electronically, using the electronic identification and signature systems accepted by the electronic headquarters of the Public Administration of the Basque Country.
• Projects must be carried out during the 2026 event and, in any case, must be completed before December 31.
• The period for resolving the grants is six months, starting from the day the resolution of the call takes effect.
• Once the grant is approved, 75% will be paid; the remaining 25% after the entire activity has been justified.
• The justification must be submitted within six months of the completion of the activity and, in any case, before March 31 of the following event.

De minimis rule and evaluation committee

Grants received by Basque houses and federations located in the territory of the European Union will be subject to the de minimis rule of Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 of December 13, 2023. According to this rule, the total aid granted to a legal or natural person shall not exceed 300,000 euros over any three-year period.

The evaluation committee will consist of the following persons:

• Gorka Ruiz de Azúa Gómez de Segura, technician of the general secretariat for External Relations and Global Basque Country and committee chair.
• Estíbaliz Urcelay Erguido, technician of the general secretariat, member.
• Caren Luisovna León Peraza, of the general secretariat, second member.
• Iñigo Duran Ibañez, of the general secretariat, committee secretary.

The management tasks of the grants correspond to the Directorate for the Basque Community Abroad. Against the resolution, an appeal for reversal may be filed within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal within two months.

This call seeks to encourage Basque houses to go beyond their traditional activity and respond to current challenges, ensuring generational renewal and the vitality of the community. Although the budget of 70,000 euros is small, grants of up to 7,000 euros per project can provide a significant boost for Basque associations abroad.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del País Vasco, n.º 182, 23 de septiembre de 2026, Otras Disposiciones, pp. 1-10 (official reference: 2026/3980).