Preparatory work for counselling structures to support mobile migrant labour

PPPA-2026-COUNSEL is a single-stage EU Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions call to establish and expand transnational counselling structures for mobile and migrant workers, with special focus on risk sectors and posted third-country nationals. The call has an indicative budget of €1,200,000, funds approximately one project at a 90% funding rate, and projects should normally run 12–18 months. Eligible applicants include social partners, public authorities, non-profits, research centres, HEIs and CSOs in eligible countries, and proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three independent entities covering activities in at least nine eligible countries including 2–4 candidate or potential candidate countries. Deadline for submission is 06 May 2026, 17:00 CET via the Funding & Tenders Portal and proposals are evaluated on Relevance, Quality and Impact with an overall pass threshold of 70/100.

Preparatory work for counselling structures to support mobile migrant labour (PPPA-2026-COUNSEL)

What it funds

Summary

A single transnational pilot project to analyse challenges faced by mobile migrant workers (with focus on risk sectors and posted third-country nationals), expand and implement a trade-union based transnational counselling network, map sector-specific counselling needs, evaluate phase 1 pilot findings and produce recommendations for a potential long-term European counselling network.

Total budget and expected awards:Indicative call budget €1,200,000; Commission expects to fund one project. Funding rate up to 90% of eligible costs ¹.

1. 1Deadline for submission: 6 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage).
2. 2Opening date: 19 February 2026.
3. 3Suggested project duration: normally 12 to 18 months (longer only if justified).

Who can apply

Lead applicant must be a legal entity established in an EU Member State. Consortium must include at least three independent beneficiaries from at least two eligible countries. Co-applicants may be from EU candidate or potential candidate countries.

Eligible applicant types

Social partner organisations (European, national or regional), public authorities, non-profit organisations, research centres/institutes, higher education institutions and civil society organisations. International organisations are generally not eligible; natural persons are not eligible except self-employed where applicable.

Geographic and consortium requirements

Activities must take place in at least nine eligible countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State and 2 to 4 may be EU candidate or potential candidate countries. The action must set up or expand counselling centres/networks in at least nine countries.

What the project must deliver (mandatory activities)

The project must: develop or improve information/advisory materials; provide individualised counselling and legal support pathways; establish/expand counselling centres/networks in at least nine countries (including candidate/potential candidate countries); create and coordinate a counsellors network and deliver monitoring and evaluation, with special focus on risk sectors and posted third-country nationals.

Key administrative notes

Applications are submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the provided Part A and Part B templates. Proposals are limited to 50 pages (Part B). All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be registered in the Participant Register before submission.

Evaluation and award:Proposals are assessed on Relevance (35 pts), Quality (35 pts) and Impact (30 pts); overall pass score 70/100. Indicative evaluation timetable: May–August 2026; information on results expected September 2026 ¹.

1. 1Admissibility and eligibility rules, financial and operational capacity checks and full evaluation criteria are described in the call document.
2. 2No financial support to third parties is allowed under this call; subcontracting is permitted subject to usual procurement rules.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation, templates and legal conditions are available in the official call fiche and call document on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Call fiche PPPA-2026-COUNSEL.

Preparatory work for counselling structures to support mobile migrant labour (PPPA-2026-COUNSEL) — Comprehensive Opportunity Description

Opportunity type: Call for proposals under the EU Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions (PPPA) programme. Managing authority: European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMPL).

Topic page and submission: PPPA-2026-COUNSEL on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal Call Topic Page. Call document: PDF call fiche and rules Call Document. Model Grant Agreement (PPPA-AG): Model Grant Agreement.

Core Purpose and Scope

This call funds one single transnational cooperation project that expands and strengthens trade union-based counselling networks for short-term mobile and migrant workers and advances the evidence base on challenges faced by mobile migrant labour, especially in risk sectors and among posted third-country nationals. It builds on the 2025 pilot, with a dual objective: 1) Analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of counselling structures in origin and destination countries, with focus on construction, international road transport, domestic care, hospitality, and agricultural seasonal work, and on posted third-country nationals; and 2) Practical implementation and expansion of a transnational counselling network operating in at least nine countries, including two to four EU candidate or potential candidate countries, with targeted capacity building and network coordination for counsellors.

What the Project Must Deliver

• Develop and improve practices, formats, and user-friendly information products on working conditions for posted and mobile migrant workers, including measures to prevent in-work poverty and discrimination based on origin.
• Provide case-based counselling services with active interventions where needed, such as document review, employer contact, and referral to legal support.
• Establish and or expand counselling centres or networks in at least nine eligible countries, of which two to four are EU candidate or potential candidate countries, serving EU citizens and third-country nationals engaged in posting or short-term mobility.
• Create and coordinate a counsellors network to ensure communication, exchange of good practices, knowledge transfer, and delivery of coordinated trainings; set up exchange spaces and organise events.
• Monitor and evaluate counselling structures across origin and destination countries and conduct expert interviews at national and EU levels, with emphasis on risk sectors and posted third-country nationals.
• Produce recommendations refining findings from phase 1 of the pilot towards a possible design of long-term funding and a European counselling network for mobile migrant workers.

Expected Impact

• Comprehensive analysis of challenges for mobile migrant labour, particularly in risk sectors and for posted third-country nationals.
• Practical expansion and operation of a transnational counselling network with measurable reach and effectiveness.
• Detailed mapping of sector-specific counselling needs and better understanding of the service landscape.
• Actionable recommendations for long-term EU support and the design of a European counselling network.

Key Dates and Budget

Answers to Categorisation Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible as beneficiaries and affiliated entities: social partner organisations at European, national or regional level including those without legal personality subject to Financial Regulation conditions; public authorities; non-profit organisations public or private; research centres and institutes; higher education institutions; civil society organisations. Other roles allowed without beneficiary funding: associated partners, subcontractors, and third parties providing in-kind contributions.

Funding Type:Grant. PPPA budget-based action grant using mixed actual cost with unit cost and flat-rate elements under the PPPA Model Grant Agreement.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Minimum three independent applicants from at least two eligible countries. The coordinator must be established in an EU Member State; co-applicants may include entities in associated candidate or potential candidate countries. Affiliated entities may participate but do not count toward the minimum consortium composition.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible countries for applicants and affiliated entities: EU Member States including OCTs, Norway and Iceland, and EU candidate and potential candidate countries. Exceptional participation possible for other countries if essential. Project activities must span at least nine eligible countries, with at least one EU Member State and two to four EU candidate or potential candidate countries included.

Target Sector:Labour mobility and employment; social affairs; social dialogue; posted workers and fair mobility services. Thematically focused risk sectors include construction, international road transport, domestic care, hospitality, and agriculture seasonal work. Cross-cutting focus on migrant and posted third-country nationals, information access on entitlements, and counselling-network capacity building.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States; Norway; Iceland; EU candidate countries and potential candidate countries. Specific countries are not individually listed in the call text; eligibility and activity spread are defined by these regional groupings.

Project Stage:Development and implementation of services with monitoring and evaluation. Includes applied analysis and mapping, network establishment or expansion, capacity building, and operational counselling delivery. Not basic research; it is a mix of development, validation in real settings, and demonstration of transnational service models.

Funding Amount:Total estimated call budget €1,200,000. The call expects to fund one project. Requested grant amounts may not exceed the maximum call budget. Funding rate is 90 percent of eligible costs.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Topic page provides direct access to the submission system.

Nature of Support:Financial support in the form of an action grant. No financial support to third parties is allowed under this call. Non-financial support includes standard EC guidance and IT tools for grant management.

Application Stages:One stage. One-step evaluation. Proposals are checked for admissibility and eligibility, then evaluated on award criteria and operational capacity.

Success Rates:Not published. The call foresees funding one project only, indicating high competitiveness.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. The funding rate is 90 percent of eligible costs, implying at least 10 percent co-financing from beneficiaries and or other sources. Grants may not produce a profit and costs must comply with eligibility rules.

Eligibility and Consortium Details

• Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries. Natural persons are not eligible, except self-employed with no separate legal personality where applicable.
• International organisations are not eligible as beneficiaries. EU bodies are not eligible except the Commission JRC.
• Entities under EU restrictive or conditionality measures are not eligible in any role.
• Minimum consortium: three independent applicants from at least two eligible countries; the coordinator must be from an EU Member State.
• Proposals must cover activities in at least nine eligible countries, with 2 to 4 of them being EU candidate or potential candidate countries, and include at least one EU Member State.

Evaluation and Award

• Relevance 35 points; pass threshold 24.
• Quality 35 points; pass threshold 24.
• Impact 30 points; pass threshold 22.
• Overall pass threshold 70 out of 100.
• Ex aequo priority: thematic coverage not otherwise covered, then higher Relevance, then Impact, then Quality, then portfolio balance for geographic and thematic spread.

Legal and Financial Set-up

• Form of grant: budget-based mixed actual cost with unit costs and flat-rate components.
• Funding rate: 90 percent of eligible costs. Indirect costs reimbursed as 7 percent flat-rate of eligible direct costs categories A-D excluding volunteers and any exempted categories.
• Travel, accommodation, subsistence: EU unit costs apply where covered; otherwise actual costs under usual practice.
• Equipment: depreciation costs by default. Renting or leasing eligible if not exceeding depreciation and excluding financing fees.
• Financial support to third parties: not allowed.
• VAT: non-deductible and non-refundable VAT is eligible, except for public bodies acting as public authority.
• Project duration: typically 12 to 18 months; longer possible if duly justified.
• Payments: for 12-month actions one prefinancing of 70 percent; for 12 to 24 months initial prefinancing 40 percent plus a 40 percent additional prefinancing after report; final balance at end. Prefinancing guarantees may be required depending on risk.
• Reporting: continuous reporting for deliverables and milestones; periodic reports for payments including financial statements; CFS required if requested EU contribution per beneficiary meets threshold.
• Liability regime for recoveries set in the MGA Data Sheet; standard options include limited joint and several liability up to maximum grant amount per beneficiary.

Administrative and Admissibility Conditions

• Submission strictly via the Portal; paper submissions not accepted.
• Application Form Part A online administrative data and summary budget; Part B technical description PDF using the provided template; mandatory annexes include CVs of core team, last year’s activity reports, and list of key projects in last 4 years.
• Part B page limit: maximum 50 pages; excess pages not evaluated.
• All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register and undergo validation.
• Language: any official EU language; project abstract in English; full application in English is strongly recommended for efficiency.

Financial and Operational Capacity, Exclusion

• Financial capacity assessed on uploaded financial documents; public bodies and cases with requested grant per beneficiary below €60,000 are usually exempt.
• Operational capacity assessed under the Quality criterion based on team profiles, prior experience, and resources. Public bodies are exempt from the operational capacity check.
• Exclusion grounds include bankruptcy, tax or social security breaches, grave professional misconduct, fraud or corruption, significant prior non-compliance, irregularities, and other grounds defined in the Financial Regulation.

Application Templates and Structure

Access templates via the Submission System on the topic page. The following structure applies:

1. 1Part A — Administrative form: applicant identification (coordinator, beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners), organisation types, contact points, short summary, keywords, budget summary by participant and category.
2. 2Part B — Technical description (max 50 pages): a) Excellence and Relevance to the call objectives and scope; b) Impact with clear KPIs and a dissemination and sustainability plan; c) Quality and efficiency of the implementation including detailed work plan, work packages, tasks, milestones, deliverables, risk management, data collection for monitoring, consortium description and complementarity, management structures, procedures for problem-solving, and a detailed methodology for counselling services and network coordination; d) Project management, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation strategy with quantitative and qualitative indicators; e) Ethical, data protection, and values compliance; f) Complementarities and synergies with other EU-funded projects; g) Geographic coverage plan meeting the nine-country requirement with 2 to 4 candidate or potential candidate countries.
3. 3Mandatory annexes: CVs of key staff; latest annual activity report for each applicant; list of key projects in last 4 years using the provided template.
4. 4Budget presentation embedded in Part A and financial statements at reporting; no separate detailed budget calculator required at submission for this call.

Submission and Support

• Submit through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System on the topic page EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Online Manual for processes from proposal preparation to reporting Online Manual.
• IT How To guides for registration, roles, submission, and grant management IT How To.
• General Portal FAQ on submission Portal FAQ.
• Call-specific questions: EMPL-PPPA-2026-COUNSEL@ec.europa.eu.
• IT Helpdesk for technical issues is available via the Portal support interface.

Policy Background and Alignment

The action supports EPSR principles on equal opportunities, secure and adaptable employment, wages, information on working conditions, social dialogue, and healthy, safe work environments. It connects to the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass and Union of Skills initiatives and contributes to the Fair Labour Mobility Package announced in the 2026 Commission Work Programme Commission Work Programme 2026. It builds on DG EMPL’s long-standing efforts in posted workers information and fair mobility support structures and on pilots and calls implemented between 2013 and 2023.

Practical Compliance Notes

• Geographic spread is mandatory: design work packages to ensure active counselling services and network operations in at least nine eligible countries including 2 to 4 candidate or potential candidate countries, and at least one EU Member State.
• Trade union-based network expansion is central; ensure social partner leadership or strong involvement and clear governance for counsellor coordination and training.
• Define robust monitoring and evaluation with realistic, measurable indicators and data collection plans aligned to Part B section on project management and M&E.
• Ensure cost eligibility: use unit costs for travel or actuals per MGA; apply 7 percent indirects; exclude financial support to third parties; align equipment to depreciation rules.
• Visibility and communication: include EU emblem and funding statement in all outputs and events as per MGA Article 17.

Summary of What This Opportunity Is About

PPPA-2026-COUNSEL funds a single, high-impact, transnational project to strengthen fair labour mobility in Europe by expanding and professionalising a trade union-based counselling network that directly serves mobile and migrant workers, including posted workers and third-country nationals, across at least nine eligible countries. The project must both operate and grow counselling services, coordinate and train counsellors through a transnational network, and deliver rigorous monitoring and evaluation of counselling structures in origin and destination countries. It must also generate a refined evidence base, sectoral needs mapping, and concrete recommendations that prepare the ground for longer-term EU support and the potential establishment of a permanent European counselling network. Eligible applicants include social partners, public authorities, non-profits, HEIs, research institutes, and CSOs established in eligible countries. The grant covers 90 percent of eligible costs up to a call budget of €1.2 million, expects a single-stage submission via the Portal, and applies strict eligibility, evaluation, and financial rules under the PPPA Model Grant Agreement. Proposals must demonstrate strong consortium capacity, clear geographic coverage with candidate or potential candidate country participation, robust work plans for counselling and network coordination, and comprehensive monitoring and dissemination strategies aligned with EU social and labour mobility priorities.

PPPA-2026-COUNSEL: Preparatory Work for Counselling Structures to Support Mobile Migrant Labour

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a single-stage call for proposals under the Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions (PPPAs) programme, aimed at supporting the establishment and expansion of transnational counselling structures for mobile and migrant workers across the European Union. The call builds on the experience gained from over 15 years of implementing similar initiatives with more than 50 previous projects, and continues work initiated in the 2025 pilot project (PPPA-2025-COUNSEL).

Call Identifier and Key Dates:Call Reference: PPPA-2026-COUNSEL. Opening Date: 19 February 2026. Submission Deadline: 06 May 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Evaluation Timeline: May-August 2026. Grant Agreement Signature: November-December 2026.

Funding Amount and Budget Parameters

Total Available Budget:€1,200,000 total call budget. The call expects to fund approximately one (1) project. The European Commission reserves the right not to award all available funds or to redistribute them depending on proposals received and evaluation results.

Funding Rate and Maximum Grant:Funding rate is 90% of eligible costs. Maximum grant amount per project: €1,200,000. Estimated EU contribution per project: €1,200,000. The grant is a budget-based mixed actual cost grant, reimbursing only eligible costs actually incurred.

Project Duration and Scope

Project Duration:Projects should normally range between 12 and 18 months. Extensions beyond 18 months may be accepted only in duly justified cases and through an amendment to the Grant Agreement.

Geographic Scope:Proposals must relate to activities taking place in at least nine (9) eligible countries. At least one (1) must be an EU Member State. At least two (2) and a maximum of four (4) must be an EU candidate country or potential EU candidate country. This geographic requirement ensures broad European coverage with specific emphasis on candidate and potential candidate countries ¹.

Call Objectives and Expected Outcomes

This call has two main strategic objectives. First, it aims to analyse the various challenges which mobile migrant workers face and to monitor and evaluate counselling structures in both countries of origin and destination. Special focus is placed on risk sectors including construction, international road transport, domestic care, and seasonal work in hospitality and agriculture, along with the growing group of posted third-country nationals. Second, it supports the running and expansion of a trade union-based transnational counselling network for short-term mobile and migrant workers in at least nine countries, including two to four candidate or potential candidate countries. The establishment of additional counselling centers is supported by targeted capacity building measures ².

The project is expected to provide detailed analysis of challenges faced by mobile migrant labour, particularly in risk sectors and among posted third-country nationals. Results will be complemented by practical implementation and expansion of a transnational counselling network. Further mapping of sector-specific needs for counselling services should be undertaken. Findings from the phase 1 pilot project will be refined to prepare recommendations for a possible design for future long-term funding and establishment of a European counselling network for mobile migrant workers.

Mandatory Activities to be Co-financed

• Developing new and improving existing practices, working methods, information products and advisory forms and formats for collection and dissemination of user-friendly and high-quality information targeted at workers and undertakings regarding working conditions applicable to posted and mobile migrant workers, including prevention of in-work poverty and discrimination based on origin
• Providing counselling services which include advice tailored to individual cases and their resolution. Where necessary, counselling must be supplemented by intervention such as document review, employer contact, or lawyer contact and referral to support legal enforcement
• Establishing and/or expanding already existing counselling centres and networks in at least nine countries, including two to four candidate or potential candidate countries, which aim at mobile and/or posted workers (EU citizens and third-country nationals)
• Creating, developing and coordinating a network for the counsellors. Such network must ensure communication, exchange of good practices and knowledge transfer between counsellors and project partners, and from counsellors and project partners to stakeholders at regional, national and EU level. The network must set up exchange spaces and organise events for best practice exchange and coordinated training
• Monitoring and evaluating counselling structures in both origin and destination countries and conducting expert interviews at national and European levels, with special focus on risk sectors and the growing group of posted third-country nationals

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Eligible Applicants and Entities

Lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities must fall into one of the following categories: Social partner organisations at European, national or regional level; Public authorities; Non-profit organisations (private or public); Research centres and institutes; Higher Education Institutions (HEIs); Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Social partner organisations without legal personality are also eligible provided conditions of the EU Financial Regulation are met.

Eligible Countries

• All EU Member States
• Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)
• Non-EU countries: Norway and Iceland
• EU candidate countries
• Potential EU candidate countries
• Entities from other countries may be exceptionally eligible if the granting authority considers their participation essential for implementation

Consortium Composition Requirements

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three (3) independent applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) that complies with the following conditions: The lead applicant must be established in an EU Member State whilst co-applicants can also be established in Candidate Countries and Potential Candidate Countries. The consortium must be composed of minimum three (3) independent entities from at least two (2) different eligible countries. Affiliated entities can participate in the consortium and must satisfy eligibility criteria as all applicants.

Exclusion Criteria

Applicants subject to an EU exclusion decision or in one of the following situations are barred from receiving EU funding: bankruptcy or similar procedures; breach of social security or tax obligations; grave professional misconduct; fraud, corruption, links to criminal organisations, money laundering, terrorism financing, child labour or human trafficking; significant deficiencies in complying with obligations under EU contracts or grant agreements; irregularities within the meaning of EU Regulation 2988/95; creation under different jurisdiction to circumvent legal obligations; intentional resistance to investigations or audits; misrepresentation of information during award procedure; or involvement in call preparation causing distortion of competition ³.

Application Process and Submission Requirements

Submission Method and Platform

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System accessible via the Topic page in the Calls for proposals section. Paper submissions are not possible. Submission is a 2-step process: first, create a user account and register your organisation in the Participant Register. Once registration is finalised, participants will receive a 9-digit participant identification code (PIC). Second, submit the proposal through the Electronic Submission System.

Required Application Documents

• Application Form Part A: Contains administrative information about participants (future coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities) and summarised budget. Filled in directly online
• Application Form Part B: Contains technical description of the project. Downloaded as mandatory Word template, completed, and uploaded as PDF file. Maximum 50 pages (Part B only)
• Mandatory annexes and supporting documents (downloaded from Portal Submission System, completed and re-uploaded): CVs (standard format) of core project team; Activity reports of last year; List of previous projects (key projects for last 4 years) with template available in Part B

Proposal Page Limits:Maximum 50 pages for Part B. Evaluators will not consider additional pages. Shorter proposals are welcome. Proposals must be readable, accessible and printable.

Confirmation of Compliance:At proposal submission, applicants must confirm having mandate to act for all applicants and that information provided is correct and complete. All participants must confirm compliance with conditions for receiving EU funding (eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, etc.). Before grant signature, each beneficiary and affiliated entity must sign a Declaration of Honour. Proposals without full support will be rejected.

Evaluation and Award Process

Evaluation Procedure

Proposals follow standard submission and evaluation procedure with one-stage submission and one-step evaluation. An evaluation committee, possibly assisted by independent outside experts, will assess all applications. Proposals are first checked for formal requirements (admissibility and eligibility). Admissible and eligible proposals are evaluated against operational capacity and award criteria, then ranked according to scores.

Award Criteria and Scoring

Proposals must pass both individual thresholds for each criterion AND the overall threshold of 70 points to be considered for funding. Relevance criterion assesses clarity and consistency of action, objectives alignment with call themes, contribution to EU strategic context, European/transnational dimension, and potential for cross-border cooperation. Quality criterion evaluates logical links between problems and solutions, consortium and project team quality, cooperation mechanisms, implementation methodology including risk management, and cost-effectiveness. Impact criterion assesses ambition and long-term impact on target groups, dissemination strategy, results transferability to other countries, and sustainability after EU funding ends.

Priority Order for Equal Scores:When proposals receive equal scores, priority is determined first by whether projects cover themes not otherwise covered by higher ranked projects. Within same topic, priority is based on Relevance scores, then Impact scores, then Quality scores. If still tied, further prioritisation may consider overall project portfolio and positive synergies, with factors documented in panel report.

Operational and Financial Capacity Assessment

Applicants must demonstrate operational capacity through general profiles of staff responsible for managing and implementing the project, description of consortium participants, activity reports from last year, and list of previous key projects from last 4 years. Financial capacity will be assessed based on documents uploaded to Participant Register (profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, audit reports, business plans). The check is normally done for all beneficiaries except public bodies and if individual requested grant is not more than €60,000. If financial capacity is not satisfactory, the granting authority may require enhanced financial responsibility, instalment payments, prefinancing guarantees, propose no prefinancing, or reject the proposal. Public bodies, Member State organisations and international organisations are exempted from operational capacity checks.

Financial Terms and Payment Arrangements

Grant Form and Funding Modalities

The grant is a budget-based mixed actual cost grant (actual costs with unit cost and flat-rate elements) which reimburses only eligible costs actually incurred. The costs are reimbursed at the 90% funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement. Grants may not produce profit (surplus of revenues plus EU grant over costs). For-profit organisations must declare revenues and profits will be deducted from final grant amount. The final grant amount may be reduced if beneficiaries fail to comply with Grant Agreement terms.

Budget Categories and Eligible Costs

• A. Personnel costs: A.1 Employees; A.2 Natural persons under direct contract; A.3 Seconded persons; A.4 SME owners and natural person beneficiaries (unit costs, not used for this call); A.5 Volunteers (unit costs, not used for this call)
• B. Subcontracting costs (limited part of action)
• C. Purchase costs: C.1 Travel and subsistence (unit costs available); C.2 Equipment (depreciation only); C.3 Other goods, works and services
• D. Other cost categories: D.1 Financial support to third parties (not allowed)
• E. Indirect costs: 7% flat-rate of eligible direct costs (categories A-D, except volunteers and exempted specific cost categories)

Specific Cost Eligibility Conditions:Travel and subsistence costs must be declared using unit costs according to Commission Decision C(2024)5405. Equipment costs follow depreciation only method. VAT: non-deductible/non-refundable VAT is eligible (but non-deductible VAT paid by public bodies acting as public authority is not eligible). In-kind contributions are allowed but cost-neutral (cannot be declared as cost). Costs for financial support to third parties are not allowed. Kick-off meeting travel costs for maximum 2 persons with return ticket to Brussels and one night accommodation are eligible if meeting occurs after project start date.

Payment Schedule

Payment arrangements are normally structured as follows for actions of 12 to 18 months duration: initial prefinancing payment of 40% paid within 30 days from entry into force of grant agreement or after receiving financial guarantee (if required), whichever is latest; second prefinancing of 40% after receiving additional prefinancing report (if consumption of previous prefinancing is less than 70%, new payment is reduced by difference between 70% ceiling and amount used); final payment at end of project calculated on basis of all claimed eligible costs.

Payment Modalities:All payments made to coordinator bank account in euro. Coordinator must distribute payments to other beneficiaries without unjustified delay. Cost of payment transfers borne as follows: granting authority bears costs of transfers by its bank; beneficiary bears costs of transfers by its bank; party causing transfer repetition bears all costs. Payments automatically lowered if beneficiary or consortium member has outstanding debts to EU (offset applied). Payments will not be made if payment deadline or payments are suspended.

Prefinancing Guarantees

If a prefinancing guarantee is required, the amount will be set during grant preparation and will normally be equal to or lower than the prefinancing for the grant. Guarantee should be in euro issued by approved bank or financial institution established in EU Member State. If established in non-EU country, bank guarantee from that country may be exceptionally accepted if offering equivalent security. Amounts blocked in bank accounts will not be accepted as guarantees. Guarantees normally requested from coordinator for consortium. Bank guarantee may be replaced by guarantee from third party if agreed. Guarantee released at end of grant in accordance with Grant Agreement conditions.

Legal and Administrative Framework

Financial Regulations and Applicable Law

The regulatory framework is set out in Regulation 2024/2509 (EU Financial Regulation). Standard applicable law regime for EU beneficiaries: EU law plus law of Belgium. The call is managed by the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Dispute settlement forum: EU beneficiaries are subject to EU General Court plus EU Court of Justice on appeal; non-EU beneficiaries to Courts of Brussels, Belgium, unless international agreement provides for enforceability of EU court judgements.

Consortium Agreement

A consortium agreement is required for this call. Internal arrangements must cover consortium internal organisation, management of Portal access, different distribution keys for payments and financial responsibilities in case of recoveries if any, additional rules on rights and obligations related to background and results, settlement of internal disputes, and liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements between beneficiaries. Internal arrangements must not contain provisions contrary to the Grant Agreement.

Record-Keeping and Reporting Requirements

Beneficiaries must keep records and other supporting documents to prove proper action implementation for at least 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants of not more than €60,000). For actual costs, adequate records and supporting documents must prove costs declared, with direct reconciliation between amounts declared, amounts recorded in accounts and amounts stated in supporting documents. For personnel costs, time worked must be supported by monthly declarations signed by person and supervisor unless another reliable time-record system exists. Records and supporting documents must be made available upon request and in context of checks, audits or investigations. Original documents must be kept; digital and digitalised documents considered originals if authorised by applicable national law.

Reporting Requirements:Beneficiaries must report progress in Portal Continuous Reporting tool according to timing and conditions set out. Periodic reporting includes technical reports and financial statements according to schedule in Data Sheet. Technical part prepared using Portal template showing action implementation overview. Financial part includes consolidated financial statements for all beneficiaries/affiliated entities, explanation of resource use, and certificates on financial statements if required. All eligible costs and contributions incurred should be declared even if exceeding estimated budget amounts. By signing financial statements, beneficiaries confirm information is complete, reliable and true; costs are eligible; costs can be substantiated; and all revenues are declared.

Important Conditions and Restrictions

• Do not wait until deadline: Submit applications sufficiently in advance to avoid last-minute technical problems. Call deadlines cannot be extended
• Before submission, ensure all beneficiaries, affiliated entities and associated partners are registered in the Participant Register. Participant identification code (PIC) is mandatory for Application Form
• When setting up consortium, attribute roles according to level of participation. Main participants should participate as beneficiaries or affiliated entities; other entities as associated partners, subcontractors, or in-kind contribution providers
• Associated partners and in-kind contribution providers should bear their own costs (will not receive EU funding)
• Subcontracting should constitute limited part and be performed by third parties (not by beneficiaries/affiliated entities). Subcontracting exceeding 30% of total eligible costs must be justified
• Multi-beneficiary grants require coordinator chosen by beneficiaries to manage project and coordinate consortium. Coordinator represents consortium towards granting authority
• Affiliated entities participate with similar rights and obligations as beneficiaries but do not sign grant and do not count towards minimum eligibility criteria
• Ensure balanced project budget with sufficient other resources to implement successfully (own contributions, action-generated income, third-party contributions)
• Proposals for already completed projects will be rejected; proposals for already started projects assessed case-by-case (no reimbursement for activities before project start or proposal submission)
• No cumulation of funding from EU budget (except under EU Synergies actions). Any action receives only one EU grant; cost items cannot be declared under two EU grants
• Combination with EU operating grants possible if project remains outside operating grant work programme and cost items clearly separated and not declared twice
• Applicants may submit multiple proposals for different projects under same call but if very similar, only one accepted for evaluation
• Proposals may be changed and re-submitted until deadline

Key Contact and Support Information

Call-Specific Inquiries:Non-IT related questions should be sent to: EMPL-PPPA-2026-COUNSEL@ec.europa.eu. Clearly indicate call and topic reference in all inquiries.

IT Helpdesk Support:For questions on Portal Submission System (forgotten passwords, access rights, technical submission aspects), contact the IT Helpdesk via the Portal.

Guidance Documents:Online Manual provides step-by-step guidance for all Portal processes from proposal preparation through grant management. Funding and Tenders Portal FAQ covers general submission questions. EU Grants AGA (Annotated Grant Agreement) provides detailed annotations on Grant Agreement provisions. All documents available on Portal Reference Documents page.

Regular Updates:Consult Portal Topic page regularly for call updates and additional information. Updates published via Topic page.

Additional Information

Data Protection:Submission involves collection and processing of personal data according to Funding and Tenders Portal Privacy Statement. Data processed solely for proposal evaluation, subsequent grant management, and programme monitoring, evaluation and communication as needed.

Transparency:EU grants awarded published annually on Europa website per Article 38 of EU Financial Regulation, including beneficiary names, addresses, grant purpose and maximum amount awarded. Publication may be exceptionally waived if disclosure risks fundamental rights or harms commercial interests.

Language Flexibility:Proposals may be submitted in any official EU language (though project abstract/summary should always be in English). For efficiency, English use for entire application strongly advised. Call documentation in other official EU languages available on request within 10 days of call publication.

Call Contingency:This call subject to final adoption of 2026 annual work programme. Substantial changes may require call modification or cancellation. Cancellations without entitlement to compensation.

Footnotes

1. 1The list of EU candidate countries and potential EU candidate countries is available at the European Commission strategy and policy on EU enlargement page.
2. 2The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan supports implementation of key principles including equal opportunities, secure employment, fair wages, information on employment conditions, and social dialogue.
3. 3Detailed exclusion criteria are outlined in Articles 138 and 143 of EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509. Professional misconduct includes violation of ethical standards, wrongful conduct affecting professional credibility, false declarations, cartel participation, intellectual property violations, conflict of interest exploitation, and incitement to discrimination or violence contrary to EU values.