The Basque Government approves a draft budget of 17 313 million by 2026, with more investment in housing and public services

The Governing Council has approved the Draft General Budgets of the Basque Country for 2026, amounting to 17,313.5 million euros, 4.1% more than in 2025, which, according to the Government, combine realism and ambition, based on strengthening public services, meeting the needs of citizens and promoting the economic and social transformations that will take place over the next decade.

The project strengthens the priority ofthe Basque Government in health, education and housing , while strengthening public security, energy transition and administrative digitization. Osakidetza will have more resources for staff and infrastructure. Education will promote new scholarships and the Vocational Training Strategy by 2030. Housing has increased most to build affordable rental flats and facilitate the emancipation of young people.

In addition, the Government will allocate $1,801 million to youth and family support policies, increase support for growth and emancipation, and reserve an additional $935 million for the "Transforming the Basque Country 2030" Plan, which will finance projects for industrial modernization, innovation and sustainability.

Strengthening public services

The Department of Health will manage EUR 5,327 million,with an increaseof 4.1% , more than two-thirds of which will be allocated to Osakidetza staff, and EUR 202 million will finance the modernisation of health infrastructure, 23% more than the previous year. Hospital pharmaceutical expenditure will grow by 8% and vaccination will reach 29.5 million.

In education, the budget is 3,346 million, with a commitment to public school light. Scholarships have increased by 5.5%, staff spending will be strengthened and 130 million have been allocated to new educational infrastructures. In addition, the Basque Country 2030 FP Strategy has been launched to strengthen dual vocational training and technological training.

Housing, youth and social cohesion

One of the largest increases is in the Housing and Agenda , with 482 million euros, 6.8% more than last year. The Government plans to start building more than 1,400 sheltered housing units and affordable rent. It will expand the Bizigune and Gaztelagun programmes to facilitate access to rent for young people and families.

Within the framework of the Social Welfare and Demographic Challenge, aid of EUR 200 per month will be extended to the age of 4 and will open up a new space for single-parent families with children between the ages of 4 and 7. The minimum age for access to the emancipation programme is also reduced by offering EUR 300 per month to young people between the ages of 23 and 29 for two years.

Economic and energy transformation

The draft accounts include EUR 935 million for the 'Euskadi  2030'plan, which is financed through the Basque Financial Alliance with the aim of accelerating industrial, social and energy transformation. Among the planned investments are those aimed at innovation, energy transition and digitisation.

The Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability will have 650 million, under the new Berrindartu programme, to help diversify SMEs into strategic sectors, and 22 million to give a specific boost to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The Department of Science, Universities and Innovation will have 653 million, an increaseof 6.6%. The regular contribution to the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) has increased by 6.3%, to 337 million.

Security, justice and digital administration

The BUDGET for the Department of Safety and Security is 850 million, anincrease of 6.4% over the previous year, which will allow the renewal of the Ertzaintza's mobile fleet and equipment, the improvement of police communications through the TETRA network and the strengthening of Cybersurveillance, as well as the investment of new resources to prevent extreme weather events.

In Justice and Human Rights, the accounts will reach 369 million and the appropriations for free legal aid and victim care have been increased. Gogora will receive 5.2 million, 14% more, for memory and human rights projects.

The Governance and Digital Administration area will have EUR 167 million, measures to modernise the public service and facilitate the processing of citizens, and part of the funds will be used to expand the Zuzenean office network and improve digital care portals.

"Look beyond the interest of the parties."

The Finance and Finance Adviser, Noël d'Anjou, has stressed that the budget "ensures the economic sustainability of governance for the next 12 months" and has urged parliamentary groups to "look beyond the interests of the parties." "We will focus the debate on the most fundamental: strengthening our economy and the well-being of the people," he said.

The draft will be registered in the Basque Parliament on 30 October and the Councillors will appear before the committees from 3 to 6 November, and the Government will then begin a round of contacts with the parties to seek additional support for theapprovalof the accounts before 23 December.