SOCPL-2026-INFO-REPR

The development and pilot use of a multilingual digital learning platform could be eligible in principle, if it is clearly presented as a tool to implement eligible project activities under the call — for example training, outreach, exchange of information and good practices, and dissemination — and if it directly contributes to the call’s objectives on employees’ involvement and social dialogue at undertaking level.

The call makes no specific reference to sectors. The key question is whether the farm or agricultural activity qualifies as an “undertaking” and whether the proposed action meets the call’s objectives, themes, eligibility conditions and transnational requirements. Transnationality is an important element of the call.

As set out in the call text, the objective of the call is to strengthen employees’ involvement in undertakings by raising awareness and supporting the application of European Union law and policies in this area. The call supports projects which seek, through social dialogue at company level, to accompany significant changes driven by industry transitions and, in particular, to ensure the take-up and effective functioning of European Works Councils. The themes and priorities (scope) focus on promoting European-level and strengthened transnational cooperation between social partners. This transnational cooperation is the operational principle for projects, translated into exchanges between relevant stakeholders represented by consortium members (e.g. for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge and good practice on workers’ involvement at company level, or specific actions to support the setting up and the functioning of European Works Councils)

In addition, the call states (see Eligible activities on page 12) that projects must comply with EU policy interests and with the European Commission’s policy on reputational matters. In particular, activities directed at EU institutions and their representatives must not create a reputational risk for the European Union.

On this basis, events should be organised so that project participants can discuss the project themes among themselves, for the purpose of transnational cooperation the participation of a European Commission representative to these discussions does not serve this purpose.

A consortium with only two beneficiaries from established eligible countries could formally fulfil the requirement. Section 6 of the Call text states that, for consortium applications, there must be at least two applicants from a minimum of two different eligible countries. It further specifies that 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”. Read together, this means the project must include beneficiaries from at least two different eligible countries; it does not say that there must be at least two beneficiaries in addition to the coordinator.

Further information on European and transnational cooperation is provided in sections 1 and 9 of the call text.

A beneficiary with a valid PIC and “declared” status may be included in the proposal at submission stage. A pending validation process does not in itself affect the admissibility of the proposal at submission, provided all other submission and eligibility conditions are met. However, validation must later be successfully completed as part of the legal checks before the grant is awarded and signed. At proposal submission stage, it is essential that every beneficiary is registered in the Participant Register and has a PIC, which is mandatory for the application form. The identity of each beneficiary and its compliance with the general eligibility conditions will be checked through the documents provided in the Participant Register during legal entity validation, and further legal and financial checks will be carried out before the grant is awarded and signed.

A public higher education and research institution may act as coordinator of a multi-beneficiary proposal if a trade union in the consortium formally appoints it as a beneficiary and provides the required letter of endorsement.

Each consortium member must be registered and as such go through a legal entity validity check and financial capacity assessment. The beneficiaries are formal parties to the Grant Agreement and have direct contractual obligations under the Grant Agreement and are fully responsible for implementing the action properly. From a financial point of view, each participant is in principle responsible for the proper and sound financial management of their part of the grant. In case of recoveries, there may however, depending on the programme and Grant Agreement, be certain situations where beneficiaries may be held responsible for their partners (financial liability).

A test/pilot learning platform may be eligible insofar as it is an instrument for carrying out eligible activities. It is not considered as a separate project website, however its integration into a participating organisation’s existing website is recommended in order to respect a balanced project budget with sufficient other resources to implement the project successfully (e.g. own contributions, sub - contracting). Applicants may be requested to lower estimated costs, if they are ineligible (including excessive).

Information regarding volunteering costs is available in section Budget categories and cost eligibility rules of the call text ( page 18). Please refer notably to section Specific cost eligibility conditions for this call: − personnel costs: − volunteers unit cost: No

Organisations may submit more than one proposal under this call, provided they are for different projects. Organisations may also participate in several proposals. However, if several proposals concern very similar projects, only one will be accepted and evaluated; the others must be withdrawn or will be rejected. In addition, applicants are invited to consult the information under section 3. Available budget of the call text.

The call requires CVs in English for the core project team, with a clear indication of the level of foreign language competences, and states that the project manager and members of the project team must have minimum B2 level English, clearly indicated in the CVs. It is not required to provide a specific language certificate as a mandatory supporting document at submission stage, however during the evaluation process such proof can be requested.

The call document does not set a fixed number of target group categories that one must choose for a proposal. It therefore does not specify any limit or required number of categories, provided that the choice is consistent with the call’s objectives and scope.

While the call document does not explicitly mention “software development”, “AI integration” or “hosting” as cost items, project-related technical costs may be eligible under the allowed budget categories, such as “other goods, works and services”, “subcontracting costs” or “equipment”(depreciation only). The SOCPL 2026 INFO REPR call does not create a specific cost category or special cost rule for AI integration itself. Any AI-related technical work would need to be justified as part of the action and fit within the standard eligible cost categories. When designing a project budget we invite applicants observe the principle of cost-effectiveness (sufficient/appropriate budget for proper implementation; best value for money) as described in section 9 ‘Award criteria’ of the call text. Project budgets must be proportionate and balanced.