Ortuella has definitively approved the new ordinance for Basque language learning grants

The Ortuella City Council has definitively amended the municipal ordinance regarding grants for learning Basque, and the new regulation is already in effect. The full text was published in issue number 183 of the Boletín Oficial de Bizkaia journal, on September 24, 2026, in section II (local administration), with the official reference BOB-2026a183-(II-4769). It was signed by Mayor Saulo Nebreda Trevejo in Ortuella, on September 7, 2026.

Initial approval and procedure

The City Council approved the initial amendment of the ordinance during its ordinary meeting held on July 30, 2026. The announcement of the amendment was published in issue number 151 of the Boletín Oficial de Bizkaia journal, on August 11, 2026, and subsequently, the public exhibition period was opened. Since no claims were filed, the full text has been published with definitive approval, under the protection of article 49 of Law 7/1985.

The ordinance states that the council wishes to achieve the bilingualism demanded by Basque society and reminds that the Basque language has been a minority language. The goal is to reduce study costs and, gradually, pave the way toward gratuity. The regulation was approved under the protection of Law 10/1982, the basic law for the normalization of the use of Basque, and Law 2/2016, the law regarding Local Entities of the Basque Country.

Who can receive the grant

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Be registered (empadronado) in Ortuella from the start of the Basque course until the grant is awarded; if registered only for a period, a proportional part will be granted.
• Be 16 years of age, or turn 16 during the year of the request.
• Be up to date with tax obligations and Social Security.
• Have been enrolled in a HABE-approved Basque school or self-study center during the previous academic year.
• Have a minimum attendance of 75% in winter courses and 80% in summer courses; as an exception, those who pass the level exams will receive the grant even if the attendance criterion is not met.

Amounts

• Ordinary grant: maximum 650 euros, 80% of the tuition.
• Grant for the unemployed: maximum 800 euros, 100% of the tuition.
• Collective of special interest from a normalization perspective (parents of children, members of the boards of sports and cultural associations, supervisors, and coaches): 100% of the tuition.
• Those who certify at least 35 hours in the Berbalagun project or in activities organized by the municipal Basque Language Service: 100%.

Each person may receive a maximum of two grants per academic year (winter and summer), and never more than the amount paid for tuition. If the number provided for in the call is exhausted, a pro-rata distribution will be made.

Deadlines and procedures

The application period will be open from October 1st to 31st, after the completion of the winter and summer courses of the previous academic year. Applications may be submitted in person at the municipal SAC service (in the OKE building) or electronically. The City Council will announce the start of the period at least 10 days in advance on the notice board, the municipal website, social networks, and in the streets.

Along with the application, among other things, the certificate from the euskaltegi (amount of tuition and attendance), the HABE certificate, in the case of unemployed persons the Lanbide certificate, and the bank details form must be submitted. The process will be managed by the Servicio de Euskera, and the proposal for the provisional resolution will be submitted in the first week of December. There will be a 10-day period to correct errors, and another 10 days to submit appeals.

Compatibility and control

The grants are compatible with aid from other administrations or organizations, but the funding can never exceed the cost of the subsidized concept. To return incorrectly received amounts and to impose penalties, the regulations of Ley 38/2003, the general law on grants, will apply. The treatment of personal data will be carried out according to the Reglamento (UE) 2016/679 regulation and the Ley Orgánica 3/2018 law.

This ordinance directly affects Basque language students in Ortuella: it facilitates the payment of a large part of the tuition, and in the case of unemployed persons, it covers the full cost. The City Council thus aims to promote Basque language studies in the municipality and make progress in the normalization of the language.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial de Bizkaia, núm. 183, 24 de septiembre de 2026, Sección II, pp. 1-6 (official reference: BOB-2026a183-(II-4769)).