Framework Partnership Agreements for operating grants to support non-profit organisations

LIFE-2026 invites mono-beneficiary Framework Partnership Agreement applications from non-profit NGOs primarily active in environment, climate action or clean energy transition with structure and activities across at least three EU Member States or LIFE-associated countries to enable annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGAs) for FY2027–FY2028. The FPA submission deadline is 08 September 2026 17:00 CET and applicants must also apply to the linked SGA call (LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA) by 22 September 2026 for FY2026 consideration; submissions are electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal and require Part A/B/C, statutes, an activity report, participant information and a list of board members, with Part B limited to 90 pages. The indicative budget is €14.5 million per year, SGAs may co-finance up to 70% of eligible costs with a maximum of €700,000 per financial year and apply a flat rate of 50% on personnel costs to cover other costs. Proposals are evaluated on relevance, support to EU policy development and implementation, sensor function and organisational development with a single-stage evaluation and a pass threshold of the weighted score equivalent to 45/80.

What it funds

Purpose and scope

Long-term Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) under the LIFE programme that set the umbrella conditions for annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGAs). They support non-profit organisations primarily active in environment, climate action and clean energy transition to strengthen civil society involvement in EU policy development, implementation and enforcement. FPAs cover a two-year period (FY2027–FY2028) and are mono-beneficiary; signing an FPA does not guarantee subsequent SGAs. Applicants must also apply to the parallel SGA call to be considered for operating grants for FY2026 ¹.

Eligible activities:Activities that contribute to Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Nature and Biodiversity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, or Clean Energy Transition as described in the call document.

Who can apply

Eligibility highlights

Non-governmental, non-profit legal entities established in EU Member States or countries associated to the LIFE programme. Organisations must be independent from governments and commercial interests, not trade unions, primarily active in environment or climate action (including clean energy), and demonstrate structure and activities covering at least three EU Member States or associated countries. FPAs are mono-beneficiary: only the selected applicant will be the beneficiary of the grant.

Capacity checks and conditions:Applicants must register in the Participant Register (PIC/LEAR validation) and will undergo financial and operational capacity and exclusion checks; supporting documents (statutes, activity report, participant information, board list) are mandatory.

How much and timing

Budget and award rules

Indicative total budget for operating grants under this FPA call is €14,500,000 per year. It is expected to sign between 30 and 35 FPAs. For subsequent Specific Operating Grants (SGAs) financed under FPAs: maximum co-financing rate 70% of eligible costs and maximum operating grant per beneficiary per financial year €700,000. Eligible non-personnel costs for SGAs are calculated with a 50% flat rate on declared personnel costs.

Key deadlines and submission

FPA call opens 12 May 2026. Deadline for FPA submission:08 September 2026, 17:00 CET. Applicants MUST ALSO submit an application to the LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA call (deadline 22 September 2026) to be considered for an operating grant for FY2026.

1. 1Submit FPA proposal online via Funding & Tenders Portal before 08/09/2026 (single-stage).
2. 2Register organisation in Participant Register (obtain PIC, LEAR validation) before submission.
3. 3Prepare mandatory annexes: statutes, last year activity report, participant information template, list of board members.
4. 4If selected, conclude FPA (Jan–Mar 2027) and apply/compete annually for SGAs under the FPA.

Applications and full details (templates, model FPA, guidance, FAQs and submission system) are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and in the call documentation Call Topic on Funding & Tenders Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1The call requires parallel submission to LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA for consideration for the specific operating grant. See the call document and SGA topic page for SGA submission instructions and deadlines.

Opportunity summary

Call identifier:LIFE-2026. Programme: LIFE — Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (2021-2027). Type of action: LIFE Operating Grants Framework Partnerships (FPA OG). Purpose: award Framework Partnership Agreements to eligible non-profit organisations active in environment, climate action and clean energy transition to enable annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGAs) for FY2027 and FY2028. FPAs are mono-beneficiary and serve as long-term cooperation instruments and prerequisites for signing annual SGAs, but do not guarantee SGAs. Applicants to this FPA call MUST ALSO apply to the LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA call to be considered for an operating grant for FY2026. Submission method: electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Call open date: 12 May 2026. Deadline: 08 September 2026, 17:00 CET. Single-stage submission and single-stage evaluation. Contact: CINEA-LIFE-NGO@ec.europa.eu. Online help and IT Helpdesk available via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Expected impact:Strengthen civil society participation in EU policy dialogue; support implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union environmental and climate objectives including clean energy transition; build and strengthen capacities of NGOs, networks and non-profit entities to be effective partners for Union policy and to contribute to EU policy-making and enforcement ¹.

Scope, objectives and priorities

Scope:FPAs are long-term cooperation instruments covering a two-year period of beneficiary organisations (financial years 2027 and 2028) and will serve as umbrella arrangements for recurrent annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGAs) for operating grants. The present call targets FPAs aimed at achieving the objectives of the four LIFE sub-programmes: Circular Economy and Quality of Life; Nature and Biodiversity; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Clean Energy Transition. FPAs support organisations across the lifecycle of Union law and policy: development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement, with emphasis on implementation and monitoring in line with the European Green Deal and related legislation. FPAs will set framework conditions and a two-year outline work programme; they do not commit the granting authority to sign SGAs. Work programmes must not include specific actions directly targeting individual Union institutions, their staff or members; beneficiaries decide on engagement with institutions and remain fully responsible for their positions and communications. Specific visibility obligations apply in SGAs.

1. 1Thematic coverage: Circular Economy and Quality of Life; Nature and Biodiversity; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Clean Energy Transition.
2. 2Types of activities funded under SGAs: organisational development and capacity building; policy support, monitoring, enforcement actions; awareness raising, dissemination and stakeholder engagement; activities that improve the evidence base to support policy development; cross-border activities and sensor functions to detect and analyse emerging issues.
3. 3Financial model for SGAs under FPAs: maximum EU co-financing rate of 70% of eligible costs; maximum operating grant per financial year €700,000; eligible costs for operating grants will be calculated using a flat rate of 50% over personnel costs covering other costs including travel, equipment depreciation, subcontracting, rental and other direct costs (only personnel costs must be declared).

Eligibility and applicant requirements

Eligible applicants:legal persons that are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or networks of non-profit making entities, independent from government and political parties and from commercial interests, not trade unions, primarily active in environment or climate action (including clean energy transition), pursuing an aim of general Union interest. Applicants must be non-profit making entities with statutes and activity reports. Applicants must have a structure and activities covering at least three EU Member States or countries associated to the LIFE Programme; formal partnerships, networks or memberships counted toward this requirement must be legal entities with a management board or equivalent mandated to represent members across borders. FPAs are mono-beneficiary: only the applicant entity will be beneficiary and can claim costs; members are not eligible to receive funding under the FPA. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and be validated (LEAR/central validation).

1. 1Legal status required: private legal entity; non-profit making; independent from government; not a trade union; primarily active in environment or climate action.
2. 2Geographic coverage requirement: structure and activities across at least three EU Member States or associated countries (evidence via statutes, activity reports, participant information).
3. 3Registration and validation: must hold a Participant Identification Code (PIC) and be validated by the Central Validation Service before signature.

Geographic eligibility and target countries

Beneficiary scope:applicants must be established in eligible countries: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories) and countries associated to the LIFE Programme. Entities from third countries not associated to LIFE may exceptionally participate where necessary for the action (but normally bear their own costs). Organisations from countries negotiating association may participate provided association is concluded before grant signature and covers the call. Special exclusions apply for entities subject to EU restrictive measures; certain Hungarian public interest trusts are excluded from legal commitments while Council measures are in force. Activities can take place in eligible countries; activities outside eligible countries are allowed only where necessary to achieve EU environmental and climate objectives (for example migratory species wintering areas or transboundary rivers).

Budget and award information

Indicative budget and expected number of awards:total indicative budget earmarked for operating grants under this FPA call is €14,500,000 per year. Depending on proposals, it is expected to sign between 30 and 35 framework partnerships. FPAs do not themselves include a funding amount; SGAs under FPAs will apply the 70% maximum co-financing rate and €700,000 maximum operating grant per financial year. Application of the flat-rate calculation: eligible costs financed through the operating grant are calculated using a flat-rate of 50% over personnel costs; only personnel costs must be declared by applicants.

Call timetable and deadlines:FPA call opening 12 May 2026. Deadline for FPA submission 08 September 2026, 17:00 CET. Evaluation September–December 2026; information on evaluation results January 2027; FPA signature January–March 2027. Parallel SGA call opening 12 May 2026 with SGA submission deadline 22 September 2026 for FY2026 SGAs, same evaluation timeline. Submission is single-stage for this FPA call.

Application, submission and templates

Submission method and forms:proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Applicants must use the templates provided inside the Submission System; not using the correct templates or failing formatting rules may render a proposal inadmissible. The application comprises: Part A (administrative data filled online), Part B (technical description — download template from Submission System, complete and upload as PDF), Part C (additional data and LPIs filled online) and mandatory annexes. Part B is limited to a maximum of 90 pages. Mandatory annexes include statutes of the non-profit entity, applicant’s last year activity report (or shorter if newly created), Participant information (template in Submission System), and a list of executive board members with names and functions. Participants must confirm declarations at submission and sign a Declaration of Honour before FPA signature.

1. 1Application structure and templates: Part A (online), Part B (PDF; max 90 pages), Part C (online), mandatory annexes (statutes, activity report, participant information, executive board list).
2. 2Formatting constraints: Arial minimum 10 pt, A4, margins >= 15 mm, do not delete template instructions, excess pages beyond page limits will be disregarded.
3. 3Where to access templates and model documents: Submission System provides the specific application form (LIFE FPA OG FR NGOs) and Participant Information template; call document and Model Grant Agreement available on the Topic page.

Evaluation, award criteria and scoring

Evaluation procedure:One-stage submission and one-step evaluation. An evaluation committee will perform admissibility and eligibility checks, then evaluate operational capacity and award criteria. Successful proposals will be invited to prepare the FPA and may enter a dialogue to fine-tune the FPA; invitation to FPA preparation does not constitute a commitment for funding. Reserve list will be established where applicable. Tie-breaking (ex aequo) rules: 1) priority to organisations that did not benefit from a LIFE operating grant under the previous FPA call (LIFE-2024-NGO-OG-FPA); 2) proposals covering themes not covered by higher-ranked proposals; 3) estimated value for money.

Award criteria explained:Relevance to LIFE objectives and EU added value; depth of understanding and concrete support to EU policy development across borders; capacity to improve implementation and enforcement of EU legislation; sensor function to detect emerging issues and propose solutions; organisational development strategy addressing capacity, fundraising diversification, dependence on LIFE funding, and value-for-money.

Financial and operational capacity, exclusion and co-funding

Financial capacity:applicants must have stable and sufficient resources to implement their work programme. Financial capacity checks are based on documents in the Participant Register (profit and loss, balance sheet, audit reports, business plans). Checks are normally performed except when requested grant <= €60,000. If financial capacity is unsatisfactory the Agency may request additional information, apply prefinancing guarantees or prefinancing in instalments, propose no prefinancing or reject the proposal. Operational capacity: applicants must demonstrate know-how, staff profiles and prior relevant experience; the Participant Information annex must detail key staff and previous projects. Exclusion grounds: applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or in exclusion situations under EU Financial Regulation (bankruptcy, breach of social/tax obligations, fraud, corruption, grave professional misconduct, money laundering, terrorism financing, serious contractual irregularities, etc.) are barred. Misrepresentation during award procedure or involvement in call preparation leading to distortion of competition will lead to rejection.

Funding modality and support nature

Primary funding type:grant — EU operating grants awarded as Specific Operating Grant Agreements under the umbrella of Framework Partnership Agreements. Nature of support: financial (monetary) via operating grants; plus non-monetary support through visibility, engagement with EU policy processes and capacity-building activities. Financial rules: maximum 70% co-financing of eligible costs, flat-rate calculation with 50% flat on personnel costs to cover other eligible cost categories. Financial support to third parties is not allowed under this call.

Number of stages, success rates and co-funding

Application stages:single-stage submission and single-step evaluation for the FPA. Subsequent SGAs are annual and will be subject to separate calls and evaluations addressed to selected framework partners. Success rates: not published explicitly; from the indicative budget and expected number of FPAs (30–35) and the likely number of applicants, the acceptance rate is competitive but variable; applicants should assume moderate to low success probability and prepare high-quality proposals aligned with award criteria. Co-funding requirement: the operating grant mechanism is co-financing with maximum EU contribution 70% of eligible costs; beneficiaries must indicate other income and ensure financial sustainability. Applicants must explain fundraising diversification and strategies to reduce dependence on LIFE operating grant.

Application form templates and structure

Templates:use the application form specific to this call in the Submission System: Standard application form (LIFE FPA OG FR NGOs) and Participant Information (LIFE). Mandatory annexes: statutes, activity report of previous year (or shorter for new entities), Participant Information, list of executive board members with names and functions. Part B template sections and suggested structure: Cover page and project summary; 1. Relevance (profile, mission, contribution to EU policy, targeted policy priorities); 2. Impact (context, expected impact and indicators); 3. Implementation (multi-annual action plan, work packages with at least WP1 organisational development and WP2+ policy area WPs, timetable per project month); 4. Resources (project management, budget and financial management, risk management); 5. Other (ethics, security if applicable); 6. Declarations. Part B page limit: 90 pages. Participant Information annex format: free-form table to describe participant role, key staff, past projects, affiliated entities or associated partners if any. Use the Portal templates and do not change required tags or instructions.

1. 1Minimum required work packages: WP1 Organisational development; WP2+ thematic policy work packages aligned with LIFE sub-programmes.
2. 2Budget presentation: multi-annual budget estimate table indicating personnel costs, flat-rate (50%), requested EU contribution per year, membership / other income, income generated by activities. Only personnel costs are declared; flat-rate covers other eligible cost categories.
3. 3Participant Information annex: include participant description, key staff profiles, up to 5 relevant previous projects, description of affiliated entities/associated partners and justification of tasks performed by them.

Important conditions, limitations and practical guidance

Submission practicalities:register organisation and obtain PIC via EU Login and the Participant Register before submission; upload all documents into the correct submission slots; submit early to avoid technical problems; the system will produce a digitally signed submission PDF after submission and send a confirmation e-mail; if confirmation is not received the proposal has not been submitted. Proposals for projects already completed will be rejected; projects already started are assessed case-by-case (costs before submission are not reimbursable). Applicants may submit only one proposal under this call. Resubmissions are allowed before the deadline. Information on successful grants will be published in line with EU transparency rules unless a well-founded request for non-disclosure is accepted. Data protection: personal data processed according to the Portal Privacy Statement.

Specific restrictions and notes:financial support to third parties is not permitted in this call; any engagement with Union institutions must be factually accurate; the FPA does not create entitlement to SGAs; some entities are ineligible due to EU restrictive measures or specific Council decisions (e.g. certain Hungarian public interest trusts) and cannot receive funding while measures are in force; applicants from countries negotiating association may be accepted provided association enters into force before grant signature and covers the call.

Summary — what this opportunity is and who should apply

This call seeks to select and sign mono-beneficiary Framework Partnership Agreements with European non-profit organisations and networks that are primarily active in environment, climate action or clean energy transition and that operate across at least three EU Member States or countries associated to the LIFE Programme. The FPA establishes a two-year cooperation framework (covering FY2027 and FY2028) allowing selected beneficiaries to be invited to apply for annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements to finance their recurring operating activities that support EU environmental and climate policy development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement. Applicants must be non-profit, independent NGOs with legal status, demonstrate cross-border structure and activities, show financial and operational capacity, and provide a clear multi-annual work programme addressing LIFE priorities. The financial modality is an operating grant using a flat-rate model (50% of personnel costs to cover other costs) with up to 70% EU co-financing and a maximum annual operating grant of €700,000. Applications are submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal using the specific templates, follow strict formatting and annex requirements, and are evaluated against five award criteria. Applicants must also apply to the parallel LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA call if they wish to be considered for an operating grant for FY2026. The call is competitive, with roughly €14.5 million per year indicative budget and an expectation to sign between 30 and 35 FPAs. Detailed rules, models and templates are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and in the call documents and Model Grant Agreement ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, templates and model grant agreement are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: LIFE-2026 LIFE call topic page.

Overview and Objectives

This call under the LIFE Programme (Programme for Environment and Climate Action 2021-2027) targets Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) for operating grants to non-profit making entities, primarily active in environment or climate action, including clean energy transition. FPAs serve as long-term cooperation instruments enabling annual Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGAs). They strengthen civil society participation in EU policy dialogue and support implementation and enforcement of EU environmental and climate objectives across LIFE sub-programmes: Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Nature and Biodiversity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Clean Energy Transition. FPAs cover FY 2027 and FY 2028 but do not guarantee SGAs. LIFE Call Fiche¹

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be non-governmental organisations (NGOs):private legal entities, non-profit making, independent from government, public authorities, political parties, trade unions, and commercial interests. They must be primarily active in environment/climate action with objectives for public good, sustainable development, or EU policy/legislation implementation. Structure and activities must cover at least three EU Member States or LIFE-associated countries. Formal networks/partnerships represented by a management board are eligible; loose cooperations are not. Mono-beneficiary only. Established in EU Member States (incl. OCTs), EEA countries associated to LIFE, or international organisations. ²

Eligible Activities

Activities supporting development, implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of EU environment/climate policy. Work programme outlines two-year activities without specific targeting of EU institutions/staff. Must align with LIFE sub-programme objectives. No financial support to third parties.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Key Deadlines:FPA submission: 08 September 2026, 17:00 CET. Applicants MUST also apply to linked SGA call (LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA) by 22 September 2026 for FY2026 consideration. Single-stage submission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Mandatory Documents:

• Application Form Part A (online)
• Part B (technical description, max 90 pages)
• Part C (additional data, online)
• Statutes of non-profit entity
• Previous year activity report (or <12 months if new entity)
• Participant Information template
• List of executive board/administration members

Register organisation for PIC/LEAR validation beforehand. English recommended. Proposal page limits: Part B max 90 pages, Arial 10pt, A4, 15mm margins.

Funding Details

Indicative budget:€14,500,000 per year. Expected: 30-35 FPAs. FPAs have no funding amount/rate. SGAs: max 70% co-financing of eligible costs, max €700,000 per financial year. Flat-rate: 50% on personnel costs covers all other costs (travel, equipment, subcontracting, etc.). Personnel costs only actual costs declared.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Single-stage evaluation. Pass threshold:45/80 weighted score. Priority: new applicants (no prior LIFE OG FPA), uncovered themes, value-for-money.

Implementation and Obligations

FPA duration:starting ~January-March 2027. Annual SGAs via invitation/evaluation. Beneficiaries must ensure financial/operational capacity, no exclusion grounds. Visibility obligations per SGA call. Comply with EU policies, values. Managed by CINEA.

Support and Resources

• Contact: CINEA-LIFE-NGO@ec.europa.eu
• FAQs: LIFE NGO FPA/SGA FAQs
• Online Manual: Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
• Info Session: 21 May 2026 recording on LIFE YouTube
• NCPs: LIFE NCPs

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and Call Fiche LIFE-2026.
2. 2Detailed eligibility in Call Fiche section 6; see LIFE Regulation (EU) 2021/783 Recital 23.