Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges in Western Balkans

The Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges program in the Western Balkans (ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-WB) is a forthcoming funding opportunity aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue and soft skills development through online educational activities. The call opens on December 4, 2025, with a submission deadline of March 26, 2026. A total budget of €1,000,000 is allocated for this initiative, which operates under the Erasmus lump sum grants (ERASMUS-LS) funding type.

Eligible applicants include institutions involved in higher education and youth sectors. This encompasses higher education institutions, youth organizations, and legally recognized educational associations from both EU Member States and associated or non-associated third countries. Projects must form a consortium of at least four independent entities from four different eligible countries, including a minimum of two participating from EU member states or associated countries and two from eligible non-associated countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro.

The program targets projects at the implementation stage, specifically incorporating already designed online exchanges into existing educational frameworks. It emphasizes themes like inclusion, digital transformation, environmental awareness, and civic participation. The initiative promotes filling gaps in mobility by allowing young people aged 13-30 to engage in virtual exchanges without physical barriers. These exchanges aim to improve critical thinking, media literacy, and soft skills.

Applications follow a single-stage submission process, with successful proposals scoring a minimum of 60 out of 100 points to be considered for funding. While co-funding is not explicitly required, participants should consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for any potential requirements related to match-funding or in-kind contributions.

The application evaluation period extends from April to September 2026, with grant agreements expected to be finalized by December 2026. Projects are encouraged to focus on the aforementioned thematic priorities while ensuring representation and active participation from both Western Balkans and EU partners. The overall goal is to enhance youth engagement and intercultural dialogue, supporting the alignment with broader Erasmus+ strategic objectives.

The Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges program promotes intercultural dialogue and soft skills development through online people-to-people activities. It aims to provide access to high-quality international and cross-cultural education for young people without physical mobility. These virtual exchanges take place in small groups, moderated by trained facilitators, and can be integrated into youth projects or higher education courses. Projects should involve organizations and participants from EU Member States, third countries associated with the program, and third countries not associated with the program in eligible regions.

The objectives of the action are to encourage intercultural dialogue, promote virtual exchanges as a complement to physical mobility, enhance critical thinking and media literacy, foster digital and soft skills development, promote citizenship and common values, and strengthen the youth dimension in EU relations with third countries.

Thematic areas for virtual exchanges include inclusion and diversity, digital transformation, environment and climate change, and participation in democratic life. Participating organizations can choose their specific topics within this framework, demonstrating the expected impact on the objectives. Gender aspects and the inclusion of vulnerable people should be considered.

Conditions for application include admissibility conditions, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria, evaluation and award processes, award criteria, scoring and thresholds, and an indicative timeline. The page limit for Part B of the Application Form (Technical Description) is 40 pages. Detailed information on these conditions can be found in the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2026.

The indicative timeline includes: Publication of the call on 27 November 2025, a deadline for submitting applications on 26 March 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time), an evaluation period from April to September 2026, information to applicants in September 2026, and signature of the grant agreement in December 2026.

The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2026.

Relevant documents include the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2026, standard application forms (ERASMUS BB and LSII), a detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII), Model Grant Agreements (MGA) including the Lump Sum MGA, the ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement, and guidance on how to manage lump sum grants.

The call includes several topics with varying budgets: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-NE with a budget of 2,040,948 EUR, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SMC with a budget of 1,646,667 EUR, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SSA with a budget of 5,174,285 EUR, and ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-WB with a budget of 1,000,000 EUR. All topics follow a single-stage submission process, with the opening date planned for 4 December 2025 and a deadline of 26 March 2026.

For help related to this call, applicants can contact EACEA-EPLUS-VIRTUAL-EXCHANGES@ec.europa.eu. The deadline for addressing queries is 13 March 2026 (eob). Additional support is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this Erasmus+ call focuses on virtual exchange projects designed to foster intercultural dialogue and develop soft skills among young people. It leverages digital platforms to overcome mobility constraints and promote European values. The call is open to organizations from EU member states, associated third countries, and eligible non-associated third countries. Projects should align with Erasmus+ priorities, including inclusion, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and democratic participation. The application process involves adhering to specific admissibility criteria, submitting a detailed proposal within the specified page limits, and meeting financial and operational capacity requirements. The evaluation process will consider the project's impact, quality, and relevance to the Erasmus+ objectives. Successful projects will receive lump-sum grants to support their implementation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to organisations involved in higher education and youth sectors. This includes entities such as universities, educational institutions, youth organizations, and other relevant bodies from EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme in eligible regions. Youth workers, defined as professional or volunteers involved in non-formal learning who support young people in their personal socio-educational and professional development, are also relevant participants.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The call requires projects to involve organisations and participants from both EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme in eligible regions, implying a consortium approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme, and third countries not associated to the Programme in eligible regions. The call specifically mentions virtual exchanges with third countries not associated to the Programme.

Target Sector: The program targets the education and youth sectors, focusing on virtual exchanges, intercultural dialogue, soft skills development, digital transformation, inclusion and diversity, environment and fight against climate change, and participation in democratic life, common values and civic engagement.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Western Balkans countries, and third countries associated and not associated to the Erasmus+ Programme are mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the implementation of virtual exchanges, suggesting projects should be at the development or implementation stage. The call aims to promote various types of virtual exchanges as a complement to physical mobility.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-NE has a budget of 2,040,948 EUR, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SMC has 1,646,667 EUR, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SSA has 5,174,285 EUR, and ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-WB has 1,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges call (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH) is a funding opportunity under the Erasmus+ Programme, designed to promote intercultural dialogue and develop soft skills among young people through online people-to-people activities. The call aims to encourage virtual exchanges as a complement to physical mobility, making international and cross-cultural education accessible to a broader audience. The projects should integrate into higher education courses or youth non-formal education projects and involve participants from EU Member States, third countries associated with the Programme, and third countries not associated with the Programme in eligible regions. The call supports projects that encourage intercultural dialogue, enhance critical thinking and media literacy, foster digital and soft skills, promote citizenship, and strengthen the youth dimension in EU relations with third countries. Thematic areas include inclusion and diversity, digital transformation, environment and climate change, and democratic participation. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single stage. The call is structured around four main topics, each with a specific budget allocation: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-NE, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SMC, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-SSA, and ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-WB. The call opens on 4 December 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 26 March 2026. The evaluation period runs from April to September 2026, with grant agreements expected to be signed in December 2026. This initiative seeks to leverage digital platforms to overcome mobility constraints and spread European values, with a focus on including socially and economically vulnerable people and those unable to participate in physical mobility programs.