Call for proposals for action grants to promote judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters

The JUST-2026-JCOO call is a significant funding opportunity under the EU Justice Programme aimed at promoting judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters. The call, titled "Call for proposals for action grants to promote judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters," has a total budget of €5,750,000 for 2026. Organizations involved in judicial cooperation, particularly public entities and established networks, are invited to apply.

The submission process is single-stage, with applications opening on December 11, 2025, and a deadline of April 22, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. This allows eligible organizations to submit comprehensive proposals without preliminary screening rounds, simplifying the application process.

This funding aims to support three key priorities: enhancing judicial cooperation in civil matters, improving judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and providing assistance to Member States in establishing and strengthening national judicial cooperation networks. The funding mechanism utilizes lump sum grants, which provide a fixed amount of financial support, thereby facilitating easier financial management for recipients.

While specific eligibility criteria are detailed in the Call Document, the target applicants include public entities and organizations with a proven capacity to engage in judicial cooperation and rule of law initiatives. The scope focuses on Member States of the EU, excluding third countries.

The evaluation period for submitted applications will occur from April to September 2026, and successful applicants will be notified before grant agreements are signed in October and November 2026. There is no explicit co-funding requirement mentioned, and details regarding success rates are not available until after the application period closes.

Overall, this call represents a crucial investment in enhancing the effectiveness of national judicial systems and fostering cross-border cooperation within the EU, directly impacting judicial processes, access to justice, and the rule of law across member states. Interested parties are encouraged to consult the full Call Document and related resources for more detailed information on eligibility, submission procedures, and evaluation criteria.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for action grants under the Justice Programme (JUST). The call, titled "Call for proposals for action grants to promote judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters" (JUST-2026-JCOO), aims to facilitate and support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, promote the rule of law, and strengthen the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. This includes supporting efforts to improve the effectiveness of national justice systems and the effective enforcement of decisions.

The call falls under the type of action "JUST-LS JUST Lump Sum Grants" and utilizes the "JUST Lump Sum Grant [JUST-AG-LS]" Model Grant Agreement (MGA). It follows a single-stage submission process.

The planned opening date for submission is December 11, 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is April 22, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The scope of the call focuses on three priorities for 2026: judicial cooperation in civil matters, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and support to Member States for setting up and strengthening national networks active in judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters. Further details can be found in the Call Document.

Regarding conditions, eligible countries, eligibility and admissibility conditions, evaluation criteria, scoring, threshold, process, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are all described in the Call Document. Proposal page limits and layout are detailed in Part B of the Application Form, which is available in the Submission System.

The indicative timeline includes: Opening for submission on December 11, 2025, a deadline for applications on April 22, 2026, an evaluation period from April to September 2026, information to applicants in September-October 2026, and signature of grant agreements in October-November 2026.

The following documents are available: the Call Document, the Standard application form (JUST) available in the Submission System, a Detailed budget table (JUST LSII), a Declaration on Honour regarding CPP by public entities, and the Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents include the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Regulation establishing the Justice Programme 2021/693, the JUST Work Programme, the Decision authorising the use of lump sums for actions under the Justice programme (2021-2027), Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, Guidance on managing lump sum grants, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the topic JUST-2026-JCOO - JUST-LS JUST Lump Sum Grants is EUR 5,750,000.

The Funding & Tenders Portal allows LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics, as well as any user with an active public Person profile. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions of the Call Document and familiarize themselves with the proposal template, its annexes, and the submission system before preparing their application. For help related to the call, contact EC-JUSTICE-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for submission of proposals, the IT Helpdesk for technical questions, and the Online Manual for a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this call for proposals under the EU Justice Programme aims to bolster judicial cooperation within the EU, focusing on both civil and criminal matters. It seeks to improve the effectiveness of national justice systems and promote the rule of law. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single stage. Interested parties should consult the detailed Call Document and related materials for comprehensive information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures. The call is specifically targeting projects that align with the three priorities outlined for 2026, which are centered around judicial cooperation and support for Member States in strengthening their judicial networks.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. The text refers to "public entities" in the context of the "Declaration on Honour regarding CPP by public entities," which suggests that public entities are eligible. However, the complete list of eligible applicant types is to be found in the Call document. The text also mentions LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants, which implies that various types of legal entities with an active public Person profile can apply.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a "JUST Lump Sum Grant" (JUST-LS). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a "Lump Sum MGA."

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the mention of "partner requests" and the ability for LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to "publish partner requests" suggests that consortia are possible and perhaps encouraged, but not necessarily mandatory. The Call document should be consulted for definitive information.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The eligible countries are "as described in the call document." Therefore, the geographic eligibility cannot be determined from the provided text alone.

Target Sector: The target sector is Justice, specifically "judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters," "the rule of law," and "the effectiveness of national justice systems."

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the text. The focus is on supporting Member States, implying the EU member states are the primary beneficiaries.

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly defined, but the call aims to "improve the effectiveness of national justice systems and the effective enforcement of decisions," suggesting projects that are at least in the development or validation stage, rather than purely in the research or idea stage. The call aims to support existing systems and networks, implying a need for projects that build upon existing foundations.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic JUST-2026-JCOO - JUST-LS JUST Lump Sum Grants is EUR 5,750,000. The "Indicative number of grants" is not specified in the provided text, so the individual grant amounts cannot be determined.

Application Type: The application type is an "open call" as indicated by the title "Call for proposals for action grants to promote judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters." The deadline model is "single-stage."

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Justice Programme (JUST) for action grants, specifically "JUST Lump Sum Grants," aimed at promoting judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, supporting the rule of law, and improving the effectiveness of national justice systems. The call is structured around three priorities for 2026: judicial cooperation in civil matters, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and support to Member States for setting up and strengthening national networks active in the area of judicial cooperation. The total budget for the topic is EUR 5,750,000. The application process is single-stage, with the submission system planned to open on December 11, 2025, and a deadline of April 22, 2026. The evaluation period is expected to run from April to September 2026, with information to applicants provided in September-October 2026, and grant agreements signed in October-November 2026. Applicants are advised to carefully read the Call Document and related annexes, and to use the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission. While the text does not explicitly define eligible applicant types or geographic eligibility, it implies that public entities and various legal entities with an active public Person profile are eligible, and that the focus is on EU Member States. The call encourages partner requests, suggesting that consortia are welcome. The funding is provided as lump sum grants. For complete details regarding eligibility criteria, evaluation process, and specific requirements, applicants must consult the Call Document.