In June, at the last meeting of the Euskaragileak Works Committee, I was informed that the Elay Group presented the consolidated accounts and the management report for the financial year 2022, together with the independent audit report, in the State Trade Register. As regards the deposit of the annual accounts, there are standard models translated into the official languages of each autonomous community. Until now it could be presented in both languages and, in case of doubt, the value of the Spanish version. We have recently learned that he has managed to do and record the accounts only in Basque.

The Elay Group, like the other companies that make up the Euskaragileak works council, is a pioneer. The committee managed by Bai Euskarari Elkartea (Batz, Cikautxo, DanobatGroup, Eika, Elay, Elkar, Fagor Group, Goizper Group, IMH, Irizar, Mondragon, MU and Orkli) consists of known companies from the Basque Country that are advanced in Euskaldunisation. They have created several projects and models to make them available to other companies. Being abrasive roads, the other companies allow a more comfortable management of the Basque country.

The fact that the audited accounts are presented in Basque before the Commercial Register seems barbaric, but so far no one else has done so. It should be customary, but this year it has been achieved for the first time, and I should like to mention two obstacles to achieving this. One is the document to be presented to the State Administration. The entities working in Basque do not always get all the formalities with the administrations to be carried out in Basque or all the documentation to be received in Basque, and the difficulties with the state administration are even greater. And the second, they've previously had to find a proper provider to help them do the Basque accounts. In other words, even if a company decides to work in Basque, there are often difficulties because suppliers from different areas have to guarantee the possibility of expressing themselves comfortably in Basque. Consider, if not, the number of suppliers that any company needs: economic advice, communication service, auditors, doctor, computer consulting, data protection, etc. The linguistic activity of all these suppliers determines the operation of the company in Basque.

Languages play a major role in the world of work, of course, but there is little talk of languages, although they should appear more clearly among those who run business initiatives. It is normal or usual for the processes to be carried out in Spanish (or French). It is essential to look at the language variable. It is necessary to facilitate the completion of any procedure in Basque since the creation of a business initiative. That is why an achievement of this kind is great news, because it opens the way for other companies working in Basque.

Rober Gutiérrez, Director of the Bai Euskarari Association