[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

March 26, 2026

Total topic budget: €3,800,000; grants are awarded as lump sums for project consortia.

Supports international partnerships to strengthen the capacity, quality, and labor market relevance of vocational education and training (VET) institutions in Eastern neighboring countries.

--- ## Description This European Commission grant funds international cooperation projects aimed at boosting the capacity, relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of vocational education and training (VET) institutions and systems in countries neighboring the EU that are not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme. The initiative is designed to foster multilateral partnerships between organizations active in VET, encouraging collaboration between EU Member States and eligible third countries. Projects should focus on improving the management, governance, quality assurance, inclusion, and innovation within VET institutions. Additional objectives include enhancing the skills of VET staff and teachers, strengthening links between VET providers and the labor market, and aligning VET offerings with local, regional, and national development strategies. These efforts support broader European Commission policy goals, such as investment packages and talent partnerships. --- ## Due Dates - March 26, 2026: Full application submission deadline (17:00 Brussels time) --- ## Funding Amount - The indicative budget for this topic is €3,800,000 for the 2026 cycle. - Grants are awarded as lump sums to consortia; the precise amount per project will depend on the scope and scale of the proposal. - Funding is provided as a single-stage, lump sum grant under the Erasmus+ framework. --- ## Eligibility - Eligible applicants are organizations active in the field of vocational education and training (VET) in EU Member States and third countries not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme (specifically, the Neighbourhood East region). - Projects must be based on multilateral partnerships. - An organization cannot be the coordinator of more than two proposals submitted under this action. - Full details, including a list of eligible countries, are available in the [Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026](https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide). --- ## Application Process - Proposals must be submitted electronically via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-NE?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=11&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). - The application consists of a technical description (Part B, maximum 40 pages) and a detailed budget. - Only one submission stage is required. - For templates and guidance, consult the [application form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/erasmus/temp-form/af/af_erasmus-bb-lsii_en.pdf), [detailed budget table](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/erasmus/temp-form/af/detailed-budget-table_erasmus-lsii_en.xlsm), and the [Erasmus+ Programme Guide](https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide). - The deadline for addressing queries is March 13, 2026 (end of business). --- ## Additional Information - Evaluation period: April–September 2026 - Information to applicants: September 2026 - Signature of grant agreement: December 2026 - For more details, refer to the [call document](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/6080/oj) and [Erasmus+ Work Programme](https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/resources-and-tools/documents-and-guidelines). --- ## External Links - [Call Details & Application Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-NE?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=11&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Erasmus+ Programme Guide](https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide) - [Application Form Template](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/erasmus/temp-form/af/af_erasmus-bb-lsii_en.pdf) - [Detailed Budget Table](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/erasmus/temp-form/af/detailed-budget-table_erasmus-lsii_en.xlsm) - [EU Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/faq) - [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | General/Call queries | EACEA-EPLUS-CBVET@ec.europa.eu | | EU Commission general info | +32 2 299 11 11 | | Contact page | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | IT Helpdesk (portal) | [IT Helpdesk Contact Form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) |

Capacity building in VET in Neighbourhood East - European Commission

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