Strengthening the CER framework

The "Strengthening the CER framework" opportunity, titled ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CER-STRENGTH, is an initiative under the European Union's Internal Security Fund aimed at supporting the implementation of the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive. This call is specifically designed to enhance the operational resilience of critical infrastructure across EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Eligible applicants include public and private entities involved in critical infrastructure resilience, which may encompass governmental bodies, critical infrastructure operators, public authorities, law enforcement agencies, research institutions, and public-private partnerships. The funding mechanism is grant-based, utilizing ISF Project Grants and ISF Action Grants under a budget-based model, which allows for the recovery of eligible direct costs at a rate of 100%, plus coverage of some indirect costs.

The project stage targeted by this call focuses on the development, validation, and demonstration of innovative solutions that address resilience for critical infrastructures, such as energy, water, transportation, and health systems. The overall budget for this opportunity is €15 million, with individual project funding amounts varying.

The application procedure follows a single-stage format, with the submission window opening on December 9, 2025, and closing on March 31, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit comprehensive proposals directly through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. A collaborative project format is permitted, though detailed consortium requirements were not specified in the data provided.

Geographically, the funding opportunity is available to entities located within the EU and associated countries, aligning with the directive's implementation timeline requiring critical entity identification across all EU Member States by July 2026.

Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their financial and operational capacity and adherence to various evaluation criteria detailed in the call documentation, which also outlines co-funding expectations, although the specific percentage was not mentioned. The successful rate for funding varies based on several factors, and more detailed information on eligibility and submission requirements can be found within the relevant sections of the call document.

Overall, this initiative represents a significant investment in enhancing Europe's critical infrastructure resilience frameworks, emphasizing innovation and practical implementation of legislative requirements. Interested parties are advised to review detailed guidelines and conditions outlined in the call document and meet admissibility criteria during the application process.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) aimed at supporting the implementation of new legislation on critical entities resilience (ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CER). This call falls under the ISF Project Grants (ISF-PJG) type of action and utilizes the ISF Action Grant Budget-Based [ISF-AG] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The call is forthcoming and follows a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date for submissions is December 9, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The admissibility conditions require adherence to the proposal page limits and layout as described in section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligibility extends to countries detailed in section 6 of the call document, with other eligible conditions also outlined in section 6. The financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in section 7 of the call document.

The submission and evaluation processes are detailed in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual. Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section 9 of the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is provided in section 4 of the call document. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in section 10 of the call document.

Key documents for applicants include the Call document, the Standard application form (AMIF, ISF and BMVI) available in the Submission System, the AMIF, ISF and BMVI MGA, the ISF Work Programme, ISF Regulation 2021/1149, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for this topic is 15,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. The call includes two specific topics: ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CER-STRENGTH and ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CER-TEST, both categorized as ISF Project Grants.

The portal facilitates partner searches, allowing LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests. The submission system is scheduled to open on the date indicated in the topic header.

A FAQ section addresses common queries, such as where to list previous projects in the application and the possibility of choosing between unit costs and actual costs for travel, accommodation, and subsistence.

For support, applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions and contact HOME-ISF@ec.europa.eu for call-related inquiries. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and IT Helpdesk are available for technical assistance. The Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals under the Internal Security Fund, focusing on enhancing the resilience of critical entities in line with new EU legislation. It provides 15 million EUR in funding for projects that aim to strengthen the CER framework. The application process involves a single-stage submission, with a deadline in March 2026. Applicants need to adhere to specific admissibility criteria, including page limits and eligibility requirements, and must consult the provided documentation for detailed guidelines on proposal preparation, evaluation, and financial setup. The Funding & Tenders Portal offers various resources and support channels to assist applicants throughout the process.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the program name (Internal Security Fund) and the call description (Supporting the implementation of the new legislation on critical entities resilience), eligible applicants could include government agencies, public organizations, research institutions, non-profits, and potentially private sector entities involved in security-related activities and critical infrastructure resilience. Further details would be available in section 6 of the call document, as referenced in the "Eligible Countries" and "Other Eligible Conditions" sections.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ISF Project Grant (ISF-PJG) and an ISF Action Grant Budget-Based [ISF-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. The partner search announcements suggest that consortia are possible and even encouraged, but single applicants might also be eligible. Section 6 of the call document may provide more details.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, since it is an EU funding opportunity under the Internal Security Fund (ISF), it is highly likely that the primary geographic eligibility is for entities within the European Union. Section 6 of the call document, as referenced in "Eligible Countries," will provide the specific details on geographic eligibility.

Target Sector: The target sector is security and critical infrastructure resilience. The call specifically aims to support the implementation of new legislation on critical entities resilience (CER). This includes strengthening the CER framework and testing related projects.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. However, the program is an EU initiative, so the relevant region is the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on implementation and testing, as the call aims to support the implementation of new legislation and includes topics like "CER-STRENGTH" (strengthening) and "CER-TEST" (testing). This suggests projects should be at the development, validation, or demonstration stage.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is EUR 15,000,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified, so the funding amount per project is variable but will be drawn from this total budget.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. This information would likely be found in the call document, possibly in section 10, which describes the legal and financial set-up of the grants.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the European Union's Internal Security Fund (ISF), specifically aimed at supporting the implementation of new legislation on critical entities resilience (CER). The call, titled "Strengthening the CER framework," seeks projects that will strengthen the CER framework and test related initiatives. The funding mechanism is a grant, with a total budget of EUR 15,000,000 allocated for the call. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a planned opening date of December 9, 2025, and a deadline of March 31, 2026.

Eligible applicants are likely to include a range of entities involved in security and critical infrastructure, such as government agencies, public organizations, research institutions, and potentially private sector companies. While the text doesn't explicitly require a consortium, it does provide a partner search function, suggesting that collaborative projects are welcome. The geographic scope is primarily the European Union, although the specific eligibility criteria will be detailed in the call document.

The call focuses on projects that are at the implementation and testing stages, supporting the rollout of the new CER legislation. Applicants will need to adhere to specific admissibility conditions, including proposal page limits and layout requirements, as detailed in the application form and call document. The evaluation process will consider factors such as financial and operational capacity, as well as award criteria, scoring, and thresholds outlined in the call document.

To apply, interested parties should carefully review the call document and annexes, including the application form templates, model grant agreements, and relevant EU regulations. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header, and applicants can seek support through the provided contact email, online manual, and IT helpdesk. Overall, this call represents a significant opportunity for organizations working in the security and critical infrastructure sectors to secure funding for projects that contribute to the resilience of critical entities within the EU.