Support for social dialogue

The main goal of this opportunity is to promote and strengthen social dialogue at both cross-industry and sectoral levels across eligible European countries. It focuses on supporting organizations involved in social dialogue to address employment, social, and economic challenges, especially those highlighted in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. Key areas include improving job quality, ensuring fair working conditions, enhancing health and safety, supporting the transition to a climate-neutral economy, and adapting to digitalization and labor market changes. The program also aims to tackle labor shortages, promote skills development, and reinforce collective bargaining, including on minimum wages. Activities must take place in EU Member States or specified non-EU countries.

• Strengthen capacity of social partner organisations to engage in effective social dialogue and EU policymaking
• Support EU-level social dialogue through actions like negotiations, implementation of agreements, and coordination efforts
• Address key labour and social challenges including fair work, green transition, digitalisation, skills development, and social protection
• Foster EU-wide collaboration through joint employer-worker initiatives and multi-country participation
• Promote social partner inclusion in EU processes (e.g. European Semester), respecting gender equality and anti-discrimination principles

Example Projects:

• A training program for trade union representatives to enhance skills in collective bargaining and digitalization.
• An awareness campaign promoting fair working conditions and minimum wages across multiple EU countries.
• A cross-border workshop to develop strategies for adapting to labor market changes due to climate transition.

• Personnel Costs: Salaries for employees, contracted persons, seconded staff, and SME owners (excluding unit costs for SME owners and volunteers).
• Subcontracting Costs: Up to 30% of total eligible costs, unless justified.
• Travel and Subsistence: Travel and accommodation for project activities, using unit or actual costs.
• Equipment Costs: Depreciation of equipment used for the project.
• Other Goods, Works, and Services: Items and services necessary for project delivery.
• Indirect Costs: Flat rate of 7% of eligible direct costs (excluding volunteer costs).
• Non-deductible VAT: Eligible, except for VAT paid by public bodies acting as public authorities.
• Kick-off Meeting Travel: Travel costs for up to two persons to attend a kick-off meeting in Brussels (if after project start date).
• Communication Costs: Costs for promoting the project on participants' websites or social media (not for separate project websites).

Restrictions: In-kind contributions are allowed but cannot be claimed as costs. Financial support to third parties is not permitted.

• Total budget of the grant: EUR 13,250,000
• Co-financing rate: 90% 
• Maximum per project: EUR 700,000
• Minimum per project: EUR 150,000
• Maximum project duration: 36 months

• Applicants must be legal entities, either public or private bodies.
• Applicants must be established and registered in eligible countries (EU Member States or specific non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine).
• Non-EU applicants cannot act as coordinators or single applicants.
• Natural persons are not eligible, except for self-employed individuals where the company has no separate legal personality.
• International organisations are eligible if they comply with grant agreement obligations.
• Entities without legal personality can participate if their representatives can take on legal obligations and provide equivalent guarantees.
• Applicants must register in the Participant Register and provide documentation to confirm legal status and country of origin.