ENEST regional communication programme (2027-2031)

The European Commission (DG ENEST) has published a restricted tender to establish a framework agreement for the ENEST regional communication programme (2027–2031) to deliver strategic communication campaigns, audience research, content production, media and influencer engagement and rapid-response services across Eastern Neighbourhood and IPA partner countries. The contract is services-based with an estimated value of €12,000,000, a maximum duration of 48 months, and will be awarded on a best price-quality ratio (quality 80%, price 20%) under a two-stage restricted procedure with short-listing of 4–8 candidates. Participation requires electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using EU Login and a PIC, and the notice marks the opportunity as not suitable for SMEs, implying requirements for substantial regional delivery capacity and relevant large-scale contract experience. The authoritative deadline for requests to participate is 12 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time and applicants must follow the portal templates and selection thresholds specified in the procurement documents.

Who can apply

Eligibility highlights

Restricted EU tender managed by the European Commission (ENEST). Participation is open to natural persons, legal entities and consortia effectively established in EU Member States, eligible partner countries listed in the procurement documents, and to international or regional organisations. Subcontracting is allowed; consortia members are jointly and severally liable.

What it funds:A regional communications framework agreement to deliver strategic communication campaigns, audience research, content production, work with media and influencers, public diplomacy and flexible communication services across ENEST partner countries.

1. 1Estimated total value: €12,000,000 (fee-based contract) for the full procedure
2. 2Contract duration: up to 48 months (framework agreement, awarded lot-by-lot)
3. 3Key geographic scope: ENP East and IPA region including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine

Procedure type:Restricted (short-list 4–8 candidates). Award: best price-quality ratio. Minimum financial selection thresholds and technical capacity requirements apply (e.g. average turnover and past contract values). See procurement documents for full selection and award criteria ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement documents and Invitation to submit a request to participate available on the Funding & Tenders Portal ENEST tender documents.

Opportunity summary

The European Commission (DG ENEST — Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood) has published a restricted procedure call for tenders to establish a framework agreement for a regional communication programme covering partner countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood and IPA region for the period 2027–2031. The programme will deliver strategic communication services to support DG ENEST and EU Delegations in communicating EU priorities, visibility of EU support, audience insights and rapid flexible communication services across multiple partner countries. The contract is for services, fee-based, with an estimated total value of €12 000 000 and a maximum contract duration of 48 months. Submission is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission).

Procedure and key dates:Procedure type: Restricted procedure. TED publication date: 11/09/2026. Deadline for receipt of requests to participate: 12/10/2026 12:00:59 Europe/Brussels. Provisional invitation to tender: 15/11/2026. Provisional contract start: 01/04/2027. All communications and submissions in English Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Eligible applicants and participation rules

Participation is open to natural and legal persons (individually or in consortium) that are nationals of, or effectively established in, an EU Member State or in eligible countries/territories as defined under NDICI Regulation (EU) 2021/947 and IPA III Regulation (EU) 2021/1529. International and regional organisations may participate. Applicants placed on EU restrictive measures lists at the time of award cannot be awarded the contract. Subcontracting is permitted. A candidate may submit only one request to participate or tender. In case of consortia, all members must register individually in the Participant Register (PIC) and group submission must be used.

Eligible applicant types:Eligible applicant types include: marketing and communications agencies, advertising and campaign service providers, public-opinion and polling firms, consultancies, NGOs and non-profit organisations, international and regional organisations, consortia formed by the above, research or polling institutes, and other legal entities effectively established in eligible countries. Individual natural persons may participate where allowed by the regulations, but most tender evidence requirements presume organisational capacity.

Geographic and sector scope

The contract covers delivery across the ENEST region (Neighbourhood East and IPA regions). It is financed by NDICI (Neighbourhood) and IPA III funds and targets communication, public diplomacy and visibility of EU external action rather than a single sector.

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility):Eligible geographic scope: EU Member States and eligible third countries under NDICI and IPA III. Activities will be performed across the following partner countries and regional zones: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Georgia; Kosovo*; Moldova; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; Türkiye; Ukraine; Region IPA instrument; Europe apart from EU. Submissions must follow nationality/establishment rules set in Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2021/947 and Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1529.

1. 1Albania
2. 2Armenia
3. 3Azerbaijan
4. 4Belarus
5. 5Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. 6Georgia
7. 7Kosovo *
8. 8Moldova (Republic of)
9. 9Montenegro
10. 10North Macedonia
11. 11Serbia
12. 12Türkiye
13. 13Ukraine
14. 14Region IPA instrument
15. 15Europe apart from EU

Nature of the contract, services and objectives

Nature:services (fee-based). Main CPV codes: 79341400 Advertising campaign services; additional CPVs: 79320000 Public-opinion polling services, 79341000 Advertising services, 39294100 Information and promotion products. The framework agreement will provide campaign development and implementation, communication product development, engagement with media and multipliers (influencers), communication intelligence and audience insights, targeted media buying (online and/or physical), monitoring and evaluation, and rapid-response flexible communication services to EU Delegations and DG ENEST.

Target sector:Primary thematic sector: communication and public diplomacy, public affairs, visibility of EU external action. Secondary services: public-opinion polling and audience research, media and influencer engagement, advertising and content production.

Contract value, duration and award

Estimated total value:€12 000 000 (excluding VAT). Maximum contract duration: 48 months. Award method: best price-quality ratio. The framework agreement may include options to repeat similar services up to 50% of the initial contract value through negotiated procedure without prior publication, provided conformity with the basic project.

Selection and award criteria — detailed requirements

This restricted call follows a two-stage procedure. Candidates must submit a request to participate. Between 4 and 8 candidates will be short-listed and invited to submit detailed tenders. If more than 8 eligible candidates meet selection criteria, re-examination ranking will be applied using additional comparative criteria.

Selection criteria — economic and financial capacity:Minimum average annual turnover requirement: not less than €3 000 000 calculated as the average of the last three financial years for which accounts have been closed. For public bodies, equivalent information is acceptable. Financial figures must be expressed in EUR; conversions use InforEuro exchange rate of September 2026 where applicable.

Selection criteria — professional capacity:Personnel requirement: during the current year and the previous two years, an average of at least 20 personnel directly employed or legally contracted (permanent or non-permanent) in specialist knowledge areas related to the contract. Tenderers must declare absence of professional conflicting interests that may negatively affect contract performance.

Selection criteria — technical capacity:Technical track record: the candidate/tenderer must have completed services under at least 3 contracts implemented at any time during the last 4 years preceding the submission deadline. For each contract, the value must be at least €1 000 000. At least one contract must cover communication on EU policies and projects. At least one contract must cover campaign development and implementation including audience research and polling, content production, targeted media buying (online and/or physical) and evaluation. At least one contract must have been implemented exclusively in any country or countries of the ENEST region. Each referenced contract should include at least two of the following as core activities: campaign development and implementation; working with multipliers (media, influencers); public diplomacy. Documentary evidence (approvals, deliverables, proof of payment, certificates from contracting entities) must support claims; if delivered in consortium, evidence must show the tenderer’s part.

If the number of eligible candidates exceeding the shortlist maximum (8), re-examination ranking uses these comparative criteria in order: 1) highest number of contracts meeting the technical capacity criterion; 2) highest cumulated value of the completed services meeting the technical capacity criterion.

Award criteria and weighting:Award is by best price-quality ratio. Procurement metadata indicates quality 80% and price 20% as the subordinate awarding criterion weights. Tenderers must consult the procurement documents for full breakdown of award sub-criteria and scoring formulas.

Application process, templates and submission details

Requests to participate must be submitted exclusively via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission). Candidates must be registered in the Participant Register and have a Participant Identification Code (PIC). Group submissions are required for consortia and every consortium member must have a PIC. The request to participate form and Declaration on Honour templates are mandatory and available from the Commission annexes wiki referenced in the procurement documents. Any additional unsolicited brochures or materials will not be considered.

Application type and stages:Two-stage restricted tender: Stage 1 — submit request to participate; contracting authority short-lists between 4 and 8 candidates. Stage 2 — invited candidates submit full tenders and supporting documentation. Provisional timetable: requests to participate deadline 12/10/2026; invitation to tender around 15/11/2026. Electronic submission via F&T Portal required.

Required attachments and templates:Mandatory attachments at request to participate stage: 1) completed Request to Participate form (use official template from Annexes); 2) Declaration referred to in Point 7 of the request to participate form (grounds for exclusion); 3) Declaration on Honour on Exclusion and Selection criteria (template). All supporting documents must be uploaded to the appropriate attachment tabs in eSubmission. Financial statements and technical references must be provided as documentary evidence. For consortium submissions, provide consortium agreement or documents showing allocation of responsibilities and evidence of capacity where relying on third-party capacities.

Key administrative and technical submission rules

Submissions must comply with eSubmission technical requirements:supported browsers (latest Chrome or Firefox), file size limits (attachments less than 50 MB each), maximum number of files per submission (200), correct file naming per System Requirements, use of UTF-8 encoding and encryption of uploaded documents. The eSubmission timestamp is proof of timely submission. If the contracting authority encounters electronic disruptions in the last five calendar days before the deadline, it may extend the deadline and publish the extension on the portal. Questions must be submitted via the F&T Portal Q&A tab; clarifications will be published at least 8 days before the deadline.

Contact and review:Lead contracting authority: European Commission, ENEST - Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood. Review authority: Court of Justice of the European Union for review procedures. For full contact details and procurement documents use the Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page. All communications during the procedure will use the email address provided in the eSubmission application for the candidate (leader in case of consortium).

Other procurement rules and notes

Grounds for exclusion follow PRAG and procurement documents. Candidates included in the EU restrictive measures lists at award decision cannot be awarded the contract. Capacity-providing entities relied upon by a candidate must meet the same nationality/establishment eligibility rules and may be jointly and severally liable. Short-listed candidates may not form alliances or subcontract to each other for this contract unless prior authorisation is obtained.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding from the candidate is required as this is a public procurement financed by NDICI and IPA III funds. The contract is fee-based and fully funded under the stated budgets and lines. Candidates must, however, provide financial data and evidence as part of selection criteria (turnover, financial statements).

Project maturity and expected deliverables

Expected maturity:implementation-ready communication service providers with demonstrated large-scale campaign delivery capacity. The contracting authority expects providers able to undertake campaign design, audience research and polling, content production, targeted media buying, influencer and media engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and rapid response communications across multiple national contexts. Deliverables will include communication strategies, campaign materials and products, audience insight reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, and operational service delivery on request from EU Delegations and DG ENEST.

Project stage:Expected project stage: development, demonstration and implementation (operational service delivery across partner countries). The tender requires prior proven delivery of similar services; this is not a research or concept-stage tender.

Success rates and shortlist information

Success rates are not specified in the procurement documents. Short-listing:between 4 and 8 candidates will be invited to tender based on the requests to participate. If fewer than 4 candidates meet the selection criteria, the authority may still invite those who satisfy the criteria. If more than 8 meet them, candidates will be ranked using the additional comparative criteria (number of qualifying contracts, cumulated value).

Templates and helpful links

The mandatory Request to Participate form and Declaration on Honour templates are available from the Commission Annexes repository referenced in the procurement documents. Candidates must use the exact templates and follow the instructions. The eSubmission Quick Guide and System Requirements pages explain technical submission steps and file format limits.

1. 1Request to Participate form (official template — upload under Other documents in eSubmission).
2. 2Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (official template — upload under Declaration on Honour).
3. 3Supporting documents for financial, professional and technical capacity (financial statements, staff lists, project references, certificates of performance, consortium agreements, PICs).
4. 4Proof of PIC registration for each consortium member (Participant Identification Code).

Practical checklist for applicants

1. 1Register organisation and obtain PIC in the Participant Register well before submission.
2. 2Ensure the organisation meets selection thresholds: average turnover >= €3 000 000 (last 3 closed years); average staff >= 20 in relevant specialist areas over the last 3 years.
3. 3Prepare documentary evidence for at least three contracts (>= €1 000 000 each) in the last 4 years, including at least one EU-policy communication contract and one campaign development/implementation contract; ensure at least one contract was implemented exclusively in the ENEST region.
4. 4Complete Request to Participate form and mandatory Declarations (use official templates); convert any non-EUR figures using InforEuro of September 2026 where applicable.
5. 5Assemble consortium documentation or capacity-provider commitments if relying on third-party capacities.
6. 6Upload all documents to the correct eSubmission attachment sections and verify file sizes and naming conventions per System Requirements.
7. 7Monitor the F&T Portal Q&A for clarifications and subscribe to the call for tenders to receive updates.

Full list of explicitly mentioned countries and zones

The procurement documents explicitly list the following countries and zones for contract performance and geographic coverage: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Georgia; Kosovo * (as indicated in procurement descriptors); Moldova (Republic of); Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; Türkiye; Ukraine; Region IPA instrument; Europe apart from EU.

Final summary — what this opportunity is about

This is a restricted tender to establish a four-year framework agreement (2027–2031) to deliver a regional communication programme supporting DG ENEST and EU Delegations across the Eastern Neighbourhood and IPA region. The contractor will design and implement strategic communication campaigns, produce communication products, engage with key multipliers (media and influencers), perform audience research and polling, deliver targeted media buying and ensure visibility of EU support, while providing rapid, flexible services to respond to operational needs. The procurement is funded under NDICI and IPA III instruments with an estimated value of €12 000 000. Shortlisting will invite between 4 and 8 candidates to submit full tenders. Selection and award criteria are stringent: demonstrable financial capacity (turnover threshold), sufficient personnel capacity, and a strong technical track record with several large contracts (>= €1 000 000 each) including EU policy communications and region-specific implementation. Interested organisations must register in the Participant Register (PIC), use the official Request to Participate and Declaration templates, and submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by the stated deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1Additional information to the contract notice (ENEST regional communication programme) and the formal Invitation to submit a request to participate are available in the procurement documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu. Consult the Additional information PDF for legal basis, financing lines, full selection criteria wording and procedural details.

This is an EU restricted services tender for a regional communication programme supporting DG ENEST and EU Delegations across the Eastern Neighbourhood and enlargement partner countries, with an estimated value of €12,000,000 and a maximum duration of 48 months.[1]

What the opportunity is about

The contract is intended to deliver strategic communication campaigns and products, strengthen engagement with key multipliers, improve the visibility of EU support, generate communication intelligence and audience insights, and provide flexible communication services that can be mobilised in response to operational needs.

The notice explains that EU awareness remains uneven across the region and that many citizens are insufficiently informed about EU policies, financial assistance, and the accession process. The programme is therefore designed to support a more strategic and service oriented communication approach adapted to different political contexts and national needs.

Who can apply

The visible notice does not publish the full eligibility rules, but it shows that participation is through a restricted procedure by request to participate and that submissions must be made electronically via the Funding and Tenders Portal.

The portal guidance shown with the notice indicates that EU Login is required for electronic submission and that a PIC is mandatory for participation as a sole tenderer or as part of a consortium.

The opportunity is marked as not suitable for SMEs, which suggests that the contracting authority expects organisations with substantial regional delivery capacity, campaign management capability, and experience in strategic communications.

Key financial and contractual terms

Geographic scope and programme context

The performance locations include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Belarus, Kosovo, the IPA region, and Europe apart from the EU.

The notice connects the work to the Neighbourhood and Instrument for Pre accession Assistance programmes, showing that the contract is part of the EU's wider external communication and enlargement support agenda.

What applicants should notice

1. 1The authoritative deadline shown in the portal is 12 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time; the earlier timestamp in the supplied metadata should not be used as the operative deadline.
2. 2This is a two stage restricted procedure, so interested operators first submit a request to participate before any invitation to tender.
3. 3Award is strongly quality led at 80 percent, so applicants should expect technical approach, regional coordination, and communication strategy to be decisive.
4. 4The assignment spans multiple partner countries, so bidders should be able to demonstrate cross border delivery, local adaptation, and operational flexibility.
5. 5The title refers to 2027 to 2031, but the maximum contract duration in the notice is 48 months, so bidders should review the tender documents carefully for the exact implementation timetable.

Submission and documents

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the electronic submission system on the portal, and the notice points to an invitation to submit a request to participate as the key procurement document.

Official notice information is available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.