The European Commission invites applications for the Operating grants under framework partnership agreements in the area of facilitating and supporting judicial cooperation in civil and/or criminal matters and/or in the area of access to justice.
Objectives
In the area of judicial cooperation: to facilitate and support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, and promote the rule of law, independence and impartiality of the judiciary, including by supporting the efforts to improve the effectiveness of national justice systems, and the effective enforcement of decisions.
In the area of access to justice: to facilitate effective and non-discriminatory access to justice for all, and effective redress, including by electronic means (e-justice), by promoting efficient civil, and criminal procedures and by promoting and supporting the rights of all victims of crime as well as the procedural rights of suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings.
Themes and Priorities
The work programmes for 2026 of the Framework Partners active in area of Judicial Cooperation in Civil and/or Criminal Matters shall address, in particular, one or several of the following priorities:
Civil Matters
Cross-border family law and matrimonial property rights
Successions
Mediation
Recognition of civil status
Jurisdiction and cross-border enforcement of claims
Insolvency
Minimum common standards of procedural law (including service of documents)
Application of foreign law, particularly in matters of non-contractual obligations
Correct implementation of the EU acquis in judicial cooperation in civil matters
Networking between legal, judicial and administrative authorities and the legal professions, aimed at promoting judicial cooperation across Europe, including through electronic channels of communication
Cross-border protection of adults
Knowledge-sharing and providing guidance on the practical aspects of the implementation of the EU acquis
Contracts in the digital economy (automated contracting, in particular in the B2B field and data in contracts)
Use of videoconferencing in remote hearings in civil and commercial matters
The compatibility of the use of digital technology in justice and related procedural rules with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights
Other activities relating to the use of digital tools, including AI, to foster judicial cooperation
Criminal Matters
Efficient operation of EU mutual recognition instruments in criminal matters, including through strenghtening cooperation between competent authorities
Pre-trial detention and material detention conditions
Alternatives to (pre-trial) detention
Improving the efficiency, quality and independence of justice in criminal matters in order to uphold and promote the rule of law
Activities relating to the use of digital tools, including AI and videoconferencing tools, to foster judicial cooperation
Activities aimed at supporting knowledge-sharing and providing guidance on the practical aspects of the EU acquis in judicial cooperation in criminal matters
Activities aimed at ensuring the exchange of information and networking between legal, judicial and administrative authorities and the legal professions, aimed at promoting judicial cooperation across Europe, including through electronic channels of communication.
Funding Information
The estimated available call budget is EUR 2 035 000 for promoting judicial cooperation in civil and/or criminal matters and EUR 2 390 000 for access to justice.
Duration: The foreseen duration of activities under the SGA is 12 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
Eligible Activities
The grants will fund operating costs and activities of the networks which have EU added value and contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Programme among others:
network activities, network development and procedural improvements to increase clarity, transparency, respect of EU values and equal treatment;
analytical activities;
training activities, including those rolling out and multiplying effect of other activities;
research and data collection/sharing/analysis;
mutual learning and exchange of good practices;
cooperation (including enhancing networking among legal practitioners);
awareness-raising activities;
information and dissemination activities with EU added value.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible, applicants must:
be a single applicant (only the network may submit an application, the member organisations are not eligible to apply)
be legal entities (private bodies)
be non-profit organisations
be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs), excluding Denmark);
non-EU countries: countries associated to the Justice Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature
be an established formal network (either with own legal personality or without legal personality but represented by a joint secretariat or officially appointed coordinator), organised at European level and with members from at least 14 EU Member States or associated countries)
