The primary goal of Cooperation Partnerships is to allow organisations to increase the quality and relevance of their activities, to develop and reinforce their networks of partners, to increase their capacity to operate jointly at transnational level, boosting internationalisation of their activities and through exchanging or developing new practices and methods as well as sharing and confronting ideas. Erasmus+ Key Action 2 supports Partnerships for Cooperation, including Cooperation Partnerships and Small-scale Partnerships. Cooperation Partnerships aim to support the development, transfer and/or implementation of innovative practices as well as the implementation of joint initiatives promoting cooperation, peer learning and exchanges of experience at European level. Results should be re-usable, transferable, upscalable and, if possible, have a strong transdisciplinary dimension. Selected projects will be expected to share the results of their activities at local, regional, national level and transnational level. Our guide on what Erasmus+ isintroduces the programme, small-scale partnerships describes the lighter option, and how to write a strong Erasmus+ application goes into the proposal itself.
Last updated: October 2026.
What does a Cooperation Partnership actually do?
Cooperation Partnerships aim at increasing quality in the work, activities and practices of organisations and institutions involved, opening up to new actors, not naturally included within one sector. Cooperation Partnerships also aim at building capacity of organisations to work transnationally and across sectors, at addressing common needs and priorities in the fields of education, training, youth and sport, and at enabling transformation and change at individual, organisational or sectoral level, leading to improvements and new approaches, in proportion to the context of each organisation.
Over the lifetime of a project, organisations may typically carry out a broad range of activities.
🗂️ Project management: activities that are necessary to ensure the adequate planning, implementation and follow-up of the projects, including smooth and efficient collaboration between project partners. In this phase, activities typically include organisational and administrative tasks, virtual meetings among partners, preparation of communication materials, preparation and follow-up of participants taking part in activities, etc..
🤝 Implementation activities: can include networking events, meetings, working sessions to exchange practices and to develop results. Implementation activities may also involve the participation of staff and learners, provided that their participation contributes to the achievement of project objectives.
📣 Sharing and promotion activities: organisation of conferences, sessions, events aimed at sharing, explaining and promoting the results of the project, whether they are in the form of tangible results, conclusions, good practices or any other form.
Cooperation Partnerships are anchored to the priorities and policy frameworks of each Erasmus+ sector, both at European and national level, while aiming at producing incentives for cross-sectoral and horizontal cooperation in thematic areas. Our guide on making your project count through dissemination and impactexplains how results reach other organisations, and the basics of running an Erasmus+ project covers the daily work of a funded project.
Which organisations can apply and take part?
Any participating organisation established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme can be the applicant or coordinator, and that organisation applies on behalf of all participating organisations involved in the project. In order to be eligible, applicant and coordinator organisations must have been legally established at least 2 years before the application deadline. For Partnerships in the fields of education and training or youth, which are submitted by European NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the applicant coordinator must be a European NGO active in the field of education and training or youth, and the European body/secretariat of the European NGO applies on behalf of the European NGO. Any public or private organisation established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or in any third country not associated to the Programme in regions 1 to 3 can participate in a Cooperation Partnership. As an exception, organisations from Belarus, which is in Region 2, are not eligible to participate in this action. Any higher education institution (HEI) established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme and wanting to participate in a Cooperation Partnership must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), and an ECHE is not required for participating HEIs in third countries not associated to the Programme, but they will have to sign up to its principles.
Irrespective of the field impacted by the project, Cooperation Partnerships are open to any type of organisation active in any field of education, training, youth, sport or other socio-economic sectors as well as to organisations carrying out activities that are transversal to different fields, such as local, regional and national authorities, recognition and validation centres, chambers of commerce, trade organisations, guidance centres, cultural and sport organisations. A Cooperation Partnership is a transnational project and must involve minimum three organisations from three different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme. There is no maximum number of participating organisations in one partnership, and all participating organisations must be identified at the time of applying for a grant.
Organisations in third countries not associated to the Programme cannot participate as project coordinators. Organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme in regions 1 to 3, with the exception of Belarus, can be involved as partners and not as applicants, if their participation brings an essential added value to the project and as long as the minimum participation from three organisations from three different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme is fulfilled.
In addition to the organisations formally participating in the project, the coordinator and partner organisations, Cooperation Partnerships may also involve other partners from the public or private sector that contribute to the implementation of specific project tasks/activities or support the promotion and sustainability of the project. Within an Erasmus+ project, these partners will be called associated partners, and for eligibility and contractual management aspects they are not considered to be project partners, and they do not receive any funding from the Programme as part of the project. Their involvement in the project and in the different activities needs to be clearly described, in order to understand their role within the partnership and have a global picture about the proposal. As an exception, organisations from Belarus and Russia are not eligible to participate as associated partners.
For applications submitted to National Agencies in the fields of school education, vocational education and training, adult education and youth, the same organisation, one OID (Organisation ID), cannot be involved in more than 10 applications overall per deadline, either as applicant or partner. Our guide on which countries can take part lists the eligible countries, what an OID is explains the organisation identifier, and how to find partners for an Erasmus+ project shows where partners come from.
Which priorities must a project address?
To be considered for funding, Cooperation Partnerships must address at least one horizontal priority and/or at least one specific priority relevant to the field of education, training, youth and sport that is mostly impacted. For projects in the field of sport only one priority, horizontal or specific, can be addressed. For projects in the field of education, training and youth managed by the Erasmus+ National Agencies in indirect management, National Agencies may, among these priorities, give more consideration to those that are particularly relevant in their national context, called "European priorities in the national context", and National Agencies must duly inform potential applicants through their official websites.
In 2026, Cooperation Partnerships and Small-scale Partnerships must address one or more of the following priority areas. The following four priorities can be addressed through applications in all Erasmus+ sectors, and applicants must clearly explain the impact of their proposal and the horizontal priority they selected on the field in which they are applying. In addition to the general priorities, specific priorities will be pursued in the respective sectors: higher education, school education, vocational education and training, adult education, youth and sport.
🤝 Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport: the Programme will support projects that promote social inclusion and aim at improving outreach to people with fewer opportunities, including people with disabilities and people with a migrant background, people living in rural and remote areas such as outermost regions, people facing gender inequalities, socio-economic difficulties or any other potential source of discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Projects under this priority will help address the barriers faced by these groups in accessing the opportunities offered by the programme, and the programme will contribute to creating inclusive environments that foster equity, equality and mental health of participants.
🌱 Environment and fight against climate change: the Programme aims to raise awareness about the green transition, environmental and climate change challenges. Priority will be given to projects aimed at developing competences in sustainability-related sectors, adopting eco-friendly methods and creating future-oriented curricula tailored to individuals' needs. The Programme will support the testing of innovative practices to prepare learners, staff and youth workers to become true agents of change, and these practices can include efforts to conserve resources, reduce energy use and waste, offset carbon emissions, and choose sustainable food and transport options. Priority will also be given to projects that encourage personal and lifestyle changes and consumption habits in line with the New European Bauhaus initiative, as well as those that develop sustainability competences of educators.
💻 Addressing digital transformation through development of digital skills and digital readiness, resilience and capacity: the Programme will support the development of digital skills, purposeful use of emerging digital technologies and innovation, including AI, in education, training, youth and sport, as well as projects aiming to increase the capacity and readiness of institutions and organisations to manage an effective shift towards digital education. Addressing digital transformation includes the development of digital pedagogy and expertise in the use of digital tools, including accessible and assistive technologies and the creation and innovative use of digital education content and digital well-being. The programme also will prioritise projects dedicated to tackling disinformation, promoting digital literacy and combating cyberbullying.
🗳️ Common values, civic engagement, preparedness and participation: the Programme will support active citizenship and ethics in lifelong learning for all age groups, foster the development of social and intercultural competences, critical thinking and media literacy, and promote intergenerational fairness and learning. Priority will also be given to projects that offer opportunities for people's participation in democratic life, enable social and civic engagement through formal or non-formal learning activities and support networks of ambassadors. Further, priority will be given to projects focused on understanding the EU, notably in regard to common EU values, the principles of unity and diversity, European cultural identity, cultural awareness and social and historical heritage with a view to strengthen European identity. The Programme also supports organisations, institutions and staff in all fields in contributing to population preparedness efforts and building resilience by playing a key role in fostering digital and media literacy and critical thinking, promoting civic engagement and democratic citizenship.
Our guide on inclusion support covers the extra support for people with fewer opportunities, green travel in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps explains the sustainable transport option, and online and virtual Erasmus+ opportunities describes the digital side of a project.
How long does a project last, and when and where do you apply?
The duration of a project is between 12 and 36 months, and the duration has to be chosen at application stage, based on the objectives of the project and on the type of activities planned over time. The duration of a Cooperation Partnership may be extended, upon justified request by the beneficiary and with the agreement of the National or Executive Agency, provided that the total duration does not exceed 36 months, and in such a case the total grant will not change.
Partnerships in the fields of education, training and youth submitted by any organisation in these fields, with the exception of European NGOs, go to the National Agency of the country in which the applicant organisation is established. Partnerships in the fields of education and training or youth submitted by European NGOs, and Partnerships in the field of sport, go to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). In all cases, the same consortium of partners can submit only one application and to one Agency only per deadline.
For Partnerships in the fields of education, training and youth submitted by any organisation in these fields, with the exception of European NGOs, applicants have to submit their grant application by 5 March at 12:00:00 midday Brussels time for projects starting between 1 September and 31 December of the same year. National Agencies in the field of education, training and youth may organise a second round of applications, for which the rules set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide will also apply, and National Agencies will inform of this possibility via their website. If a second round is organised, applicants must submit their grant application by 1 October at 12:00:00 midday Brussels time for projects starting between 1 January and 31 August of the following year. For Partnerships in the fields of education, training and youth submitted by European NGOs, and for Partnerships in the field of sport, applicants have to submit their grant application by 5 March at 17:00:00 Brussels time.
All the activities of a Cooperation Partnership must take place in the countries of the organisations participating in the project, either as full partners or as associated partners. In addition, if duly justified in relation to the objectives or implementation of the project, activities can also take place at the seat of an Institution of the European Union, even if in the project there are no participating organisations from the country that hosts the Institution, and activities involving sharing of results can also take place in other EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme or eligible third countries not associated to the Programme. Our guide on the 2026 EU project deadlines for organisations collects the dates, what National Agencies are explains who handles your application, and what Erasmus+ accreditation is covers the separate route for repeat mobility.
How much funding can a Cooperation Partnership get?
There are three pre-defined lump sums grants available, corresponding to the total grant amount for the project: EUR 120 000, EUR 250 000 and EUR 400 000. Applicants will choose between the 3 pre-defined amounts according to the activities they want to undertake and the results they want to achieve. When planning their projects, the applicant organisations, together with their project partners, will need to choose the most appropriate lump sum amount to cover the costs of their projects, based on their needs and objectives. Proposals must describe the activities that applicants commit to carry out with the lump sum amount requested and must satisfy the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
The choice of the lump sum amount should be based on the applicant's estimate for the overall cost of the project, and applicants must choose the lump sum amount that best suits their needs while ensuring an efficient use of the funds and the respect of the co-financing principle, so the estimated overall cost of the project shall be higher than the fixed lump sum amount requested. In case of doubts between two amounts, applicants can reduce the cost of their project, for instance by finding more cost-effective ways to achieve similar results or by adapting the number/scale of the project activities to the budget, or increase the scale of their project, for instance by aiming to reach more participants with their activities, increasing the number of activities, or producing additional project results.
In the application, the applicants will describe their project proposal by splitting it into "work packages", and a work package is defined as a set of activities contributing to the achievement of specific project objectives. Each project must include a dedicated work package for project management and a number of implementation work packages, a maximum of 4 implementation work packages per project are recommended, and a maximum of 20% of the total project budget can be allocated to the project management work package. Subcontracting of services is allowed as long as it does not cover core activities on which the achievement of the objectives of the action directly depends, and in such cases the subcontracted tasks and the amount budgeted for them must be clearly described in the project application, unless stated otherwise in the application form.
The condition for the full payment of the grant is the completion of all the activities in line with the quality criteria described in the project application. In case one or more activities are not completed, partially completed or assessed as unsatisfactory in the quality assessment, appropriate reductions of the grant amount may be applied at final report stage in cases of poor, partial or late implementation by not accepting single work-packages or activities, or by reducing the overall amount by a flat-rate percentage. The final report assessment is based on the detailed descriptions of each activity carried out, quantitative and qualitative information showing the level of achievement of the project objectives stated in the application and the quality of project results uploaded in the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. Our guide on how lump sum funding works explains the model behind the three amounts, and the basics of running an Erasmus+ project covers the reporting that follows.
How is an application assessed?
Relevance has a maximum score of 25 points, quality of the project design and implementation has a maximum score of 30 points, quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements has a maximum score of 20 points, and impact has a maximum score of 25 points. Under relevance, one element is the extent to which the proposal is relevant for objectives and priorities of the Action, and in addition the proposal will be considered as highly relevant if it addresses the priority "inclusion and diversity" or, in case of projects managed by the Erasmus+ National Agencies, if it addresses one or more "European Priorities in the national context", as announced by the National Agency, or, in case of projects submitted by ENGOs in the fields of education, training or youth to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, if the applicant runs activities that support the implementation of EU policies in one of these sectors. Relevance also covers the extent to which the proposal is relevant for the respect and promotion of shared EU values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as fighting any sort of discrimination, the extent to which the profile, experience and activities of the participating organisations are relevant for the field of the application, the extent to which the proposal is based on a genuine and adequate needs analysis, the extent to which the proposal is suitable for creating synergies between different fields of education, training, youth and sport or it has potentially a strong impact on one or more of those fields, the extent to which the proposal is innovative, the extent to which the proposal is complementary to other initiatives already carried out by the participating organisations, and the extent to which the proposal brings added value at EU level through results that would not be attained by activities carried out in a single country.
Under quality of the project design and implementation, the assessment looks at the extent to which the project objectives are clearly defined, realistic and address needs and goals of the participating organisations and the needs of their target groups, the project work plan is clear, complete and effective, including appropriate phases for preparation, implementation and sharing project results, the project is cost-effective and allocates appropriate resources to each activity, and the project proposes appropriate quality control, monitoring and evaluation measures to ensure that the project implementation is of high quality, completed in time and on budget. Project design and implementation also covers the extent to which the activities are designed in an accessible and inclusive way and are open to people with fewer opportunities, and the extent to which the project incorporates the use of digital tools and learning methods to complement their physical activities, and to improve the cooperation between partner organisations. If Erasmus+ online platforms and tools are available in the field(s) of the participating organisations, the assessment looks at the extent to which the project makes use of Erasmus+ online platforms and tools, where relevant (European School Education Platform, including eTwinning, Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe (EPALE), European Youth Portal, Youthpass) as tools for preparation, implementation and follow-up of the project activities. Quality of the project design and implementation also covers the extent to which the project is designed in an eco-friendly way and incorporates green practices in different project phases, the project encourages participation and civic engagement, and the project clearly describes both qualitative and quantitative indicators, that are realistic, feasible, and contribute to strengthening the overall quality of the project. If the project plans training, teaching or learning activities, the assessment looks at the extent to which these activities are appropriate for the project's objectives and involve the appropriate profile and number of participants, the quality of practical arrangements, management and support modalities in learning, teaching and training activities, and the quality of arrangements for the recognition and validation of participants' learning outcomes, in line with European transparency and recognition tools and principles. To be considered for funding, proposals must score at least 70 points out of 100 points in total, and they must score at least half of the maximum points in each of the categories of award criteria, which means minimum 13 points for the categories "relevance of the project" and "impact", 15 points for the category "quality of the project design and implementation" and 10 points for the category "quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements".
Each project proposal must present a clear project management methodology (needs analysis, work plan, clear task allocation and cooperation arrangements between partners, etc.), and the assessment of these requirements shall follow the principle of proportionality, so the higher the amount requested, the more the project methodology will be expected to be detailed and comprehensive.
A Cooperation Partnership project consists of four stages, which start even before the project proposal is selected for funding: planning, preparation, implementation and follow-up.
📝 Planning: define the needs, objectives, project and learning outcomes, activity formats, schedule etc..
🧰 Preparation: planning of the activities, development of work programme, practical arrangements, confirmation of the target groups of envisaged activities, set up of agreements with partners etc..
🚀 Implementation: implementation of activities.
🔁 Follow-up: evaluation of the activities and their impact at different levels, sharing and use of the project's results.
Horizontal aspects to be considered when designing a project are inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, the digital dimension, and participation and civic engagement. In addition to complying with the formal criteria and setting up sustainable cooperation arrangement with all project partners, these elements can contribute to increasing the impact and qualitative implementation of Cooperation Partnerships throughout the different project phases. The Erasmus+ Programme seeks to promote equal opportunities and access, inclusion and fairness across all its actions, and organisations should design accessible and inclusive project activities, taking into account the views of participants with fewer opportunities and involving them in decision making throughout the whole process. Projects should be designed in an eco-friendly way and should incorporate green practices in all its facets. Virtual cooperation and experimentation with virtual and blended learning opportunities are key to successful Cooperation Partnerships. Cooperation Partnership projects should offer opportunities for people's participation in democratic life, social and civic engagement. Our guide on how to write a strong Erasmus+ applicationturns these criteria into a proposal, and making your project count through dissemination and impact covers the impact section.
Frequently asked questions
Can an informal group of young people take part in a Cooperation Partnership?
No, for the purpose of this Action informal groups of young people are not to be considered as an organisation and are therefore not eligible to participate, neither as applicants nor as partners. Any participating organisation established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme can be the applicant or coordinator, and that organisation applies on behalf of all participating organisations involved in the project. Our guide on what an OID (Organisation ID) is explains the identifier each organisation registers with.
How new can your organisation be?
In order to be eligible, applicant and coordinator organisations must have been legally established at least 2 years before the application deadline. All participating organisations must be identified at the time of applying for a grant. Our guide on Erasmus+ deadlines for organisations lists the dates of the coming rounds.
How many partners do you need?
A Cooperation Partnership is a transnational project and must involve minimum three organisations from three different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme. There is no maximum number of participating organisations in one partnership. Our guide on finding partners for an Erasmus+ project walks through where to look for them.
Can you choose your own grant amount?
No, there are three pre-defined lump sums grants available, corresponding to the total grant amount for the project: EUR 120 000, EUR 250 000 and EUR 400 000. Applicants will choose between the 3 pre-defined amounts according to the activities they want to undertake and the results they want to achieve. Our guide on lump sum funding in Erasmus+ describes the funding model in more detail.
Can a Cooperation Partnership include mobility?
Cooperation Partnerships may include the organisation of transnational learning, teaching and training activities of individuals and groups of individuals, in so far as they bring added value in the achievement of the project's objectives. The format, purpose and the type and number of participants in the proposed activities will be described and justified as part of the project application. Our guide on mobility of youth workers and job shadowing covers learning abroad for youth workers.
What is the difference between a Cooperation Partnership and a Small-scale Partnership?
Two types of partnerships are offered to organisations to work, learn and grow together, Cooperation Partnerships and Small-scale Partnerships. The information included in the two sections of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide will help you to choose the type of partnership that best suits the profile and structure of your organisation and your project ideas. A Cooperation Partnership is a transnational project and must involve minimum three organisations from three different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme. Our guide on small-scale partnerships sets out the lighter option.
Can organisations from outside the Programme countries take part?
Organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme in regions 1 to 3, with the exception of Belarus, can be involved as partners and not as applicants, if their participation brings an essential added value to the project and as long as the minimum participation from three organisations from three different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme is fulfilled. As an exception, organisations from Belarus, which is in Region 2, are not eligible to participate in this action. Our guide on Erasmus+ eligible countries goes through country eligibility in more detail.
Where to go next with a Cooperation Partnership
Our guide on how to write a strong Erasmus+ application goes into the proposal itself, and how to find partners for an Erasmus+ project covers the partner search. The related pages below from Youth Works Hub cover each part of this guide in more detail.
Related pages: small-scale partnerships · how lump sum funding works · how to write a strong Erasmus+ application · how to find partners for an Erasmus+ project · the EU project roadmap for organisations · what National Agencies are
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/category/erasmus-projects
