Economia Social i Solidària

FAQs

• Who can present an application?

  This subsidy call can benefit: 

  • 1.1.a The legal persons who present projects which pursue the goals and comply with the requirements of the campaign, such as, but not limited to, organisations and companies of the third social sector, cooperative societies, friendly societies, worker-owned companies, community economy and commons collaborative economy initiatives, public or private university and educational organisations. If the statutes or similar documents, depending on the specific legal format, state that the social and solidarity economy (and/or some of its typologies – cooperativism, the third sector, friendly societies, etc.) is the main focus of activity (or one of the main ones) and/or the project is aimed at boosting, promoting, supporting and/or revitalising and/or operating in accordance with the principles of the social and solidarity economy, this will be taken into account.
  • 1.1.b Public or private groups of legal persons, such as cooperative groups or other legal forms that group organisations together, as referred to in Point 1 of this section, developing inter-cooperation or business-collaboration projects that are based on the principles and values of the social and solidarity economy, in accordance with Article 3.2 3.2 of Barcelona City Council’s general regulations on subsidies.
  • 1.1.c Groups of natural persons, including individual business people, in the process of forming a cooperative. 
  • 1.1.d Groups of natural persons from community economy and commons collaborative projects that have not been formalised.
  • 1.1.e Any legal person with a cooperative transformation project. 

  In the case of a group of natural persons as defined in 1.1.c and 1.1.d, the subsidy application may be submitted by an individual natural person on behalf of the group, accompanied by the signed agreement stating the commitments and participations of the participants, although s/he will be understood as the beneficiary of the municipal subsidy and will assume the tax implications applicable to the person who appears as the applicant for the subsidy. 

  For the beneficiaries defined in points 1.1.c and 1.1.e, the subsidy comes with the obligation to set up the cooperative, register it on the corresponding register, and also on the register of businesses before the project to be subsidised is completed. For the purposes of economic justification, both expenses invoiced in the name of the applicant and those invoiced in the name of the cooperative, once it has been set up, will be admissible.  

  Each category specifies the type of natural and legal persons who are to be the beneficiaries.

  Applicant organisations must adapt their activity to ethical principles and rules of conduct that ensure compliance with the principles of equality, objectivity and transparency. If they fail to comply with the ethical principles and rules of conduct, the penalty system established in Act 19/2014, of 29 December, on transparency, access to public information and good governance will apply, and the penalties established in Article 84 on beneficiaries of financial aid, without prejudice to other possible consequences provided for in the current legislation on subsidies.
   

• Incompatibilities

  A maximum of one subsidy application per natural or legal person is permitted. The same natural or legal person may submit only one application for the whole campaign, either as an individual natural or legal person, or as the lead natural or legal person of a group of organisations or natural persons (the lead organisation or natural person of the group is the natural or legal person who is the legal representative of the group of organisations or natural persons).

  In cases where the same organisation is an applicant in more than one application from a grouped organisation; this shall lead to the exclusion of the grouped organisation in its entirety.

  In cases where the same applicant presents more applications than permitted in the campaign, the first application only will be accepted, in rigorous order of registration. Subsequent applications will be rejected on the grounds of duplicity.

• Necessary documentation, and how it must be submitted

  • Basic Document 1: Subsidy application form. This contains a declaration of compliance, which replaces the need to present documentation supporting this statement of compliance at the time the application is made. This should be presented together with Basic Documents 2 and 3.
  • Basic Document 2: Project description form. This should be presented together with Basic Documents 1 and 3.
  • Basic Document 3: Budget form. This should be presented together with Basic Documents 1 and 2.
  • Declaration of transparency: where applicable.
  • Document proving ownership of the account to be used for the bank transfer: this is mandatory; applications that do not include such documentation will not be assessed. In the case of those organisations that have an account with ethical finance organisations and/or cooperatives, given that it is one of the assessment criteria for this specific campaign, it will be necessary to present an ‘Application for bank transfer for payments to creditors’ form together with a statement of conformity from the credit organisation, signed and stamped by the legal representative of the organisation, or an accredited person, in the case of an application from an individual natural person, in order for it to be valid for assessment purposes. If this is not presented or if it is presented without a stamp and/or a signature, it will not be valid. The bank transfer application form will only be requested after the provisional decision has been taken, at the time of payment of the subsidy awarded, if applicable. In all cases, the procedure for the payment of subsidies, applicable from 22 April 2021, is as follows:

  1. Legal persons: are required to use this link.
  2. Natural persons: preferably via  this link.

  In exceptional cases, it will be acceptable for natural persons to register via hard copy, which the Treasury will verify with the banking organisation. We do not recommend submission on paper when online banking organisations are used, as it is impossible to verify the data.

  • A collaboration agreement document is mandatory in the case of groups of legal persons: 

    In order to apply for a subsidy, the groupings of legal persons described in section 1.1.b of this call for subsidy applications must provide a signed collaboration agreement, using the form provided for groupings of legal persons. In these cases, the agreements must be signed by each of the legal representatives in order to be assessed, and must indicate the participation and contribution, if applicable, of each part of the group with regard to the implementation of the project for which subsidy is being requested, and the amount of the subsidy to be applied for each of the partners. The degree of complementarity between the organisations involved in setting up the partnership must be declared. The organisations participating in the collaboration agreement are also beneficiaries and must sign a document similar to the applicant organisation’s declaration of compliance to authorise access to data relating to the TGSS, AEAT, IMH and previous justifications, even if presented by an organisation leading the project to be subsidised.
    Templates for these compulsory documents will be available, for the specific year and the specific call for subsidy applications, via this link

  Applications that do not include basic document 1, basic document 2 and basic document 3, and where applicable, depending on category, the collaboration agreement document for groupings of legal persons, duly completed and signed, before the deadline established in the call for subsidy applications, will be immediately rejected. Basic documents 1, 2 and 3 and the group partnership agreement document, as well as the bank transfer request for payments to creditors valid for assessment purposes, will be those available to the administration before the deadline for submission of applications.In the event of being declared a beneficiary, it will be necessary to present the supporting documentation already referred to in the declaration of compliance if it does not appear in the registers of the City Council or its municipal organisations.

  Each application submitted must correspond to a single project for which subsidy is being sought, indicating a single category code (thematic area and category) for which the applicant wishes to apply. The ‘name of the project’ for which the subsidy is requested identifies the set of actions to be subsidised.

  The fact of submitting the application implies the acceptance of the communications foreseen in this call by the Administration, to the e-mail address that the applicant must necessarily indicate, as well as any subsequent change of this e-mail address in order to facilitate the communications by the Administration with regard to the project to be implemented within the framework of this specific call for subsidy applications. 

  Likewise, the submission of the application may imply the registration of the Organisation in the General File of Citizen Organisations. In accordance with the Spanish Framework Act 3/2018, of 5 December, on Personal Data Protection and the guarantee of digital rights, we hereby inform that personal details will be included in Barcelona City Council’s file, for the purposes of managing these subsidies. The rights of access, rectification and cancellation will be exercised by means of written communication submitted to a municipal registry and addressed to Plaça Sant Jaume, 1, 08002 Barcelona, clearly indicating in the title ‘Protections of GDPR rights’ together with the right you wish to exercise.
   

• How applications must be submitted

  All legal persons must present their applications telematically. All the procedures associated with the initial application and presentation of documents, until the final decisions are taken, must also be carried out through the e-office, via the specific procedure designated by the Council.

  Under exceptional circumstances, the application may only be presented in person by natural persons who do not want to present the application telematically. All the procedures associated with the initial application and presentation of documents, including the final justification, must also be carried out through publicly registered Citizens Help and Information Office. It is necessary to arrange an appointment and it is recommended to do so sufficiently in advance, given the current situation.

• Requirements for the projects

  Projects eligible for a subsidy must meet the following requirements:

  • The presented projects must have goals and purposes that contribute to at least one of the strategic lines established in Barcelona’s 2030 Social and Solidarity Economy Strategy.
  • The proposed activities or services must complement, provide or improve municipal actions in the matters established in the campaign’s terms and conditions.
  • The activities must be carried out in the municipality of Barcelona and be of general interest for the City of Barcelona.
  • The subsidised projects must foster activities of public or social interest and they must either be free for the participants, or the price must not, under any circumstances pose an obstacle to their participation, seeking other forms of access for people in financial difficulties. In the event that there be some type of profit, this must be reinvested in the subsidised activities themselves.
  • The subsidised projects must begin in the year the call for applications refers to, and must be completed within a maximum of 12 months.
  • The projects or activities must specify the access and selection channels for participants, ensuring equal opportunities.
  • The presented applications must avoid the use of sexist language and include the gender perspective in their proposals.
  • The remuneration of staff hired as part of the subsidised project must not be lower than the minimum inter-professional salary, nor the salary stipulated in the corresponding workers’ agreement or benchmark regulations. The campaign establishes a minimum remuneration and the current contract requirements, where necessary.

  The campaign details other specific requirements which the presented projects must comply with, in some thematic areas and/or specific categories.
   

• How are the projects scored?

  The project considered for subsidy may have a maximum score of 10 points, divided into two parts; 4 points for general criteria and 6 points for the specific criteria in each category.

  In any event, the projects considered for subsidy must achieve a minimum score of 6 points overall and, therefore, the projects that have obtained a lower score shall not receive any subsidy.

• Acceptance and assessment of applications

  Applications that do not include basic document 1, basic document 2 and basic document 3, and where applicable, depending on category, the collaboration agreement document for groupings of legal persons, duly completed and signed, before the deadline established in the call for subsidy applications, will be immediately rejected. Basic documents 1, 2 and 3 and the group partnership agreement document, as well as the bank transfer request for payments to creditors valid for assessment purposes, will be those available to the administration before the deadline for submission of applications.

  Once the application and necessary documentation has been submitted, checks will be carried out to ensure that they fulfil the requirements established for applicants, and for projects put forward. If at the time of the submission of the application the specific project form for which subsidy is sought has not been provided, the application will be automatically rejected, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 68 of Law 39/2015, of 1 October, on common administrative procedure for public administrations, with regard to the completion of projects that have not been implemented. 
  If at the time of the submission of the application some of the required documentation has not been supplied, and is not in the hands of Barcelona City Council, it may be submitted at any time before the closure of the application submission period; once this period has expired, a maximum and non-extendible period of 10 working days will be granted to submit the outstanding documentation, but new documents will not be required. However, should it be necessary due to a lack of information or a need for clarification, the documentation may be amended. This documentation must be submitted in the format, and by the means, indicated in the call for subsidy applications. Once this period has expired, no further documents will be accepted, and the application will be automatically rejected. 

  Once the application has been accepted, the project will be assessed in accordance with the criteria established in the regulatory bases and in the call for subsidy applications, so that the Assessment Committee may issue a report on the proposal. 

• Obligations for beneficiaries

   

  •  Agree to comply with the obligations set out in the regulatory bases published on 15/02/2021 and within the framework of this specific 2022 call for subsidy applications published.
  • Perform the activity on which the granting of the subsidy is based.
  • Accept and comply with the regulations approved by the City Council and all other applicable regulations, especially the current regime of incompatibilities, taking into account the binding regulations arising from European Community law.
  • Prior to the final award of the subsidy, accredit that they are up to date with their tax contributions to the City Council and the Spanish Tax Agency, as well as with their Social Security contributions.
  • Have justified any subsidy previously awarded by the City Council and its municipal bodies once the deadlines have passed.
  • Inform the City Council of any significant change that occurs after the subsidy has been awarded and during the project’s implementation period (by submitting the duly amended project and/or reimbursing the funds received where the activity is suspended and/or, where necessary, the corresponding renunciation and/or reimbursement is made).
  • Justify the activity carried out and the application of the funds received together with the total cost, while also conducting the activity and fulfilling the purpose for which the subsidy was granted.
  • Cooperate with the verification and information actions that the City Council undertakes.
  • Have any accounting documents that may be required by taxation bodies and provide them to ensure their inspection and monitoring powers.
  • Store the documents providing supporting evidence of the application of the funds received, including electronic documents, for as long as they are subject to verification and monitoring actions.
  • Declare any subsidies received from the City Council and its municipal bodies, or any other authorities or public entities, within the last twelve months.
  • Include the following phrase in informative and publicity materials: ‘With the support of Barcelona City Council’, in accordance with the corporate-image regulations of Barcelona City Council.
  • Inform the controlling body of the performance of informative acts and sessions associated with the project’s development, a minimum of 15 days beforehand, and when the event is publicised, send a copy of the graphic material, either on paper or digitally, so that the controlling body may give its prior approval.
  • Declare which VAT regime is applicable to them.
  • Comply with Act 19/2014, of 29 December, on transparency, access to public information and good governance, under the terms and conditions that apply to it.
  • Inform Barcelona City Council in the manner and time determined, under Act 19/2014, of 29 December, on transparency, access to public information and good governance, information relating to payments from their management or administrative bodies, for the purposes of publishing them.
  • Declare they have not been subject to final administrative sanctions or final convictions for having engaged in or tolerated discriminatory practices on the grounds of sex or gender, and under Act 17/2015 on effective equality between men and women.

  Legal or natural persons benefiting from subsidies will be subject to the responsibilities and penalties laid down in the regulations specified in the published regulatory bases, and in this specific call for subsidy applications

  The City Council and its municipal bodies that take part in the subsidy campaign shall be exempt from civil, mercantile, employment or any other type of responsibility arising from the actions that the natural or legal persons who are beneficiaries must carry out.

  The beneficiaries may not alter the destination of the adjudicated subsidies under any circumstances.

• Reformulation of subsidised projects

  Reformulation is not obligatory, but it is highly recommendable.

  In case the amount granted to a provisionally approved subsidy application is lower than the amount requested on the application form, and provided that this does not substantially affect the implementation of the project, it is necessary to submit a reformulation of the project in accordance with the decrease in this amount. If this reformulation is not submitted, the total amount for the project described in the application form will be taken into account when assessing the project’s justification.

  Substantial modifications to a project may not be under any circumstances be requested once the application has been submitted and assessed, and the subsidy has been awarded.

  Deviations from the project may be requested in terms of the content, schedule or budget, provided that this does not negatively affect the essence of the approved project, and this must always be authorised by the managing body. 

  Reformulation requests must be submitted through the City Council’s e-office, following the instructions and using the forms available for this procedure, and must provide justification for the request for reformulation, an updated project report, a project sheet and a new budget. Application through the City Council’s General Register shall only be possible for natural persons, in accordance with Article 14.1 of Act 39/2015, of 1 October.

  The reformulation application may be carried out during the entire duration of the project, and always before the completion deadline for the activities provided for in the approved project. However, it is determined that any changes that affect the project’s implementation schedule may only be requested up to 31 December of the year the subsidy is granted. Reformulations concerning the schedule that are requested after the indicated date shall not be authorised.

  Reformulation applications concerning project schedules received later than the date indicated above may only be accepted in the case of exceptional and sudden causes, which must be adequately justified in the reformulation application, and approval by the Managing Authority will always be required.

  The forms shall be available after the publication of the definitive resolution.

  The acceptance or denial of reformulation applications shall be resolved by the managing body and shall be communicated to the organisation by email.

  In the case of administrative silence, this shall be considered as a rejection.
   

• When do the subsidies in this campaign have to be justified?

  Justification is obligatory. 100% of the project’s total cost must be justified, not just the subsidy.

  It is necessary to justify the approved and/or reformulated project a maximum of two months after the subsidised project has concluded, in a final justification report, according to the regulatory models that shall be available from the definitive resolution onwards, using the same procedure number that the telematic registry generates when initially presenting the application.

  Justification of the subsidised activity shall be carried out by means of a justifying account according to the total cost of the project, in accordance with the established models and including the following:
   

  • Justification form that shall include a declarations of compliance signed by the legal representative of the organisation that shall include the following text: ‘The payslips and invoices provided are the only originals and there are no other copies of these payslips and invoices for the purposes of justification of the subsidy presented to other public administrations. The scanned and digitalised copies registered as justification of the economic expenditure for the total cost of the subsidised project agree with the original documents that are in the possession of, and safeguarded by, the beneficiary organisation’.
  • Technical performance report indicating the activities carried out and the obtained results, as well as the publications and/or products relating to the final implemented project.
  • A simplified financial report, consisting of the following information:
    •  Representative statement of costs incurred and income obtained for carrying out the entire subsidised project, duly grouped under the headings of expenditure and funding and compared with the amounts initially budgeted in the submitted project and the deviations experienced. Deviations are admitted that are consistent with the technical report and detailed in the technical and economic justifying report among the various budget sections, except for those entries in which the campaign sets limits on the type of eligible expenses and indirect expenses, limited to a maximum of 10% of the amount of the awarded subsidy for all the expenses detailed in Point 13.3 of these regulatory terms and conditions.
    • Classified list of expenses for the entire subsidised project, with identification of the supplier and document number, description of the expense, the amount, date of issue and, where appropriate, date of payment, as well as the expense attributed to the municipal subsidy. Furthermore, if the subsidy was awarded in accordance with an estimated budget, any deviations that occur must be indicated.
    • Details of the income that has funded the subsidised activity, stating the amount, date and provenance.
    • A scanned, digitalised copy of all expenses and payments for the amount of the total cost of the subsidised project.
    • The three requested budgets for those expenses of over €12,000 without VAT, in the case of service provision, or of over €30,000 without VAT in the case of carrying out work, as well as the justification report for the choice made where this is not the most economically advantageous proposal.

  In the case of subsidies of over €20,000, an external audit report of the approved and/or reformulated project shall be required.
  Communication of reimbursement where the entire amount or part of the subsidy has not been applied to the project.

  The managing body shall review the justifying account of all subsidies awarded.

  In the case of presenting tickets, their value may not be greater than the percentage of the subsidy amount that is indicated in the campaign, and shall be accompanied by a statement from the legal representative of the legal person or group of – natural or legal – persons indicating the concept to which this expense is attributed.

  In the case of presenting payslips, they shall be accompanied by the corresponding TC1 and TC2 from the General Social Security Treasury and the corresponding income tax forms.

  in the case of presenting the justification telematically, the accompanying invoices or equivalent probative documents for the awarded subsidies must be formalised by the legal representative of the subsidy beneficiary, and include the phrase ‘This document has been used to justify a subsidy awarded by Barcelona City Council’.

  The City Council may check, at any moment and through whatever means it deems fit, the destination of the awarded amounts with regard to their purposes. The subsidy beneficiary must give free access to their accounts (accountancy books and registers).

  The companies and organisations that receive the subsidies must make a commitment to conserve the original documents for four years, as they may be required to submit them by the City Council.

  Non-performance of the subsidised activity or non-compliance with the terms and conditions that are considered for the award of the subsidy, as well as any lack of justification or incomplete justification of the subsidised activity, may lead to the total or partial reimbursement of the subsidy by its beneficiary.