Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Prerogatives are tasks resulting from specific powers directly conferred by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to the European Commission.
The prerogatives budget lines managed by the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion deal with social dialogue, labour mobility as well as analysis of the social situation, demographics and the family.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The call aims at supporting projects which seek to identify, anticipate and address challenges in workers’ involvement in undertakings resulting from changes driven by the decarbonisation and digitalisation of European economies, to help foster a just transition.
The main objective of this call is to develop employees’ involvement in undertakings by raising awareness and contributing to the application of European Union law and policies in this area, and, in particular, the take-up and effective functioning of European Works Councils. The call also aims at supporting projects which seek to identify and address challenges in workers’ involvement in undertakings resulting from changes driven by the so-called twin transition (green and digital).
Detailed Call Description
Actions to promote European level and strengthened transnational cooperation between social partners that address the following themes would be expected:
- to promote exchange and wider dissemination of knowledge and good practices and to launch actions aimed at supporting the setting up and good functioning of European Works Councils, including the promotion of genderbalanced European Works Councils;
- to support workers’ involvement in the anticipation and management of change and the prevention and resolution of disputes in the event of various forms of restructuring in EU level undertakings and groups of undertakings, as required to achieve a just transition, i.e. address challenges brought by the pursuit of EU’s climate objectives (e.g. Council recommendation of 16 June 2022 on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality), and by the digital transformation of economies (e.g. impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on work organisation or working conditions).
The types of activities which may be funded under this call for proposals include, but are not limited to:
- training actions, manuals and any other type of outreach activities, exchange of information and of good practices involving workers’ and/or employers’ representatives, with a focus on activities generating a lasting effect;
- analysis of quantitative and qualitative aspects and results on subjects related to workers’ and employers’ representation and social dialogue at undertaking level in a transnational cooperation context and enhanced collaboration and proactivity of stakeholders in the anticipation of / response to change and restructuring activities and to changes in work organisation, business/production models and forms of work;
- dissemination of information on project activities and outputs through websites, publications, newsletters and other means with a view to support the lasting effect of the action.
In order to achieve inclusion of persons with disabilities accessibility must be ensured, for example of information, meetings, consultations, etc.
Activities funded under this call for proposals should respect gender equality and nondiscrimination principles. Access for people with disabilities shall be guaranteed.
Definitions used in the contect of this call:
“Social partner organisation” is either an organisation representing workers – including organisations referred to as “trade unions” – or an organisation representing employers. They engage in some form of “social dialogue”, discussing and often negotiating such issues as wages, working conditions, training, etc.
European-level social partner organisations (or “European-level social partners”) are either organisations that are consulted in accordance with Article 154 TFEU (an up-to date list can be found here) or other European social partner organisations fulfilling the definition of social partner organisations representing workers (also referred to as trade union) or employers at regional, national or European level that are engaged in “social dialogue” i.e. the discussion and negotiation of wages, working conditions, training, etc. that are not included in this list, but which:
- demonstrate that they represent several national social partners (fulfilling as well the definition above);
- have a mandate of these organisations to engage in social dialogue at European level on their behalf;
- are involved in the preparation and functioning of European social dialogue at sector level.
The call shall focus on one or a limited number of topical challenges with a view to maximise both the individual and aggregated impact of the selected projects.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
90%
Project budgets (maximum grant amount): are expected to range between €250.000 and maximum €350.000 per project.
This does not preclude the submission/selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
Thematic Categories
- Employment
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
- Trade and Commerce
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Employees
- Employers
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies). In derogation from this requirement and pursuant to Article 197(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation, the organisations of social partners without legal personality under the applicable national law are also eligible provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the entities and that the entities offer guarantees for the protection of the financial interests of the Union equivalent to those offered by legal persons. In particular the applicant shall have a financial and operational capacity equivalent to that of a legal person and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons. The representatives of the applicant shall prove that those conditions are satisfied. For organisations without legal personality, a signed letter of the legal representative certifying his/her capacity to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the organisation must be submitted.
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member State
- non-EU countries (not for coordinator and single applicant): Candidate Countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine)
- be representative of workers or employers such as:
A. for workers: the applicants may be works councils or similar bodies ensuring the general representation of workers; European, national, regional, sectoral or multi-sectoral trade unions;
B. for employers: applicants may be organisations representing employers at European, national, regional, sectoral or multi-sectoral level.
As an exception to the above requirement, applicants may also be technical bodies such as non-profit training or research bodies, or commercial companies only if the aim of the project is non profit. These technical bodies and commercial undertakings will be considered eligible as coordinators only where they are expressly mandated by one or more eligible participating organisations representing workers or employers and when a mandatory letter of endorsement is included.
Single applicants
Proposals by single applicants are allowed. Affiliated entities and associated partners may be included in projects submitted by single applicants. Single applicants are ONLY eligible if the entity is either a trade union or employers’ organisation.
Consortium composition
When proposals are submitted by a consortium, the consortium shall consist of at least two applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities), from minimum 2 different eligible countries, which complies with the following conditions:
- The coordinator representing the consortium shall be a European, national or regional level workers’ or employers’ organisation;
- If the coordinator is not a European-level workers’ or employers’ organisation, the action must involve other beneficiaries (with/without affiliated entities) from more than one Member State or Candidate Country
- International organisations may participate as co-applicants only (other beneficiaries, not as coordinator); even if, as an exception their registered office is not in one of the EU Member States or Candidate Countries. They cannot be coordinators.
- Other entities may participate in other consortium roles, such associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions;
- Associated partners and third parties giving in-kind contributions shall not declare eligible costs and shall not benefit from the grant (they will not become formal recipients of EU funding);
- Technical bodies or commercial companies can participate in the consortium provided they meet the conditions described under “eligible participants”.
Financial support to third parties is not allowed.
Proposals must relate to the activities taking place in the eligible countries (see above).
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Non-IT related questions should be sent to the following email address: call-specific questions:
EMPL-SOCPL-2025-INFO-REPR@ec.europa.eu