RFAs: Building Strong Transnational Youth Networks in Europe

European Youth Together is an Erasmus+ funding action that supports large-scale transnational youth networks across Europe to strengthen cooperation, solidarity, and inclusive democratic participation. It provides lump-sum grants of up to €500,000 for 24-month projects led by youth organisations working across EU Member States and associated countries.

The programme aligns closely with the EU Youth Strategy and European Youth Goals, prioritising youth-led, inclusive, digital, and value-driven cooperation at European level.

Overview

European Youth Together is an Erasmus+ action designed to support the creation and development of strong transnational youth networks across Europe. Its core purpose is to enhance cooperation, solidarity, and inclusive participation among young people through joint projects, youth exchanges, training activities, and network-building initiatives.

Activities can be delivered both physically and online, enabling flexible and innovative forms of collaboration. Projects are expected to be youth-led and to actively involve young people in all stages of design, implementation, and evaluation.

Policy Context and Strategic Alignment

European Youth Together operates within the framework of key EU youth policy instruments.

It directly supports the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027) and contributes to the achievement of the European Youth Goals. The action is also inspired by the European Youth Work Agenda and recent European youth policy frameworks.

Projects funded under this action must promote the six core values of the European Union:

• Respect for human dignity

• Freedom

• Democracy

• Equality

• Rule of law

• Human rights, including minority rights

Key Objectives of the Action

European Youth Together focuses on strengthening structured transnational cooperation among youth organisations and youth networks.

Its main objectives include:

• Promoting solidarity and inclusive democratic participation among young people

• Encouraging youth participation in civic and democratic life at local, national, and European levels

• Increasing the involvement of under-represented and disadvantaged young people

• Supporting innovative, digital, and hybrid forms of youth cooperation

• Strengthening youth work quality, capacity, and long-term collaboration across borders

Types of Activities Supported

Funded projects typically involve a combination of the following activities:

• Transnational youth exchanges and mobility activities

• Joint training programmes and capacity-building initiatives

• Network development and coordination meetings

• Digital collaboration platforms and online participation tools

• Youth-led advocacy, civic engagement, and policy dialogue activities

All activities must contribute to building sustainable European or regional youth networks.

Funding Structure and Financial Details

European Youth Together provides funding in the form of lump-sum grants.

Key financial parameters include:

• EU contribution covers up to 80% of the total estimated project budget

• Maximum EU grant per project: €500,000

• Total budget allocated to the action: €8,000,000

• Typical project duration: 24 months

• Extensions may be granted if clearly justified

The lump-sum model requires clear planning and justification of activities, outputs, and results rather than detailed cost reporting.

Who Is Eligible?

The action is open to organisations that are actively working in the field of youth and have the capacity to operate transnationally.

Eligible coordinators include:

• Not-for-profit organisations active in youth work

• Public bodies working in the youth sector

Eligible partners may include:

• Youth organisations from EU Member States

• Youth organisations from third countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme

• For-profit organisations (as partners only)

For-profit organisations cannot act as project coordinators.

All participating organisations must demonstrate the ability to mobilise young people across multiple countries and contribute to the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy.

Geographic Scope

European Youth Together projects must involve organisations from:

• EU Member States

• Third countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme

Projects are expected to create regional or European-level networks rather than isolated bilateral partnerships.

How European Youth Together Works

Step 1: Build a Transnational Consortium

Applicants must form a partnership of youth organisations from multiple eligible countries, ensuring balanced representation and complementary expertise.

Step 2: Design a Youth-Led Project

Young people should be directly involved in identifying needs, defining objectives, and shaping activities. Projects must demonstrate clear European added value.

Step 3: Align With EU Youth Priorities

Proposals should clearly link planned activities to the EU Youth Strategy, European Youth Goals, and EU values.

Step 4: Submit an Erasmus+ Application

Applications are submitted through the Erasmus+ programme under the European Youth Together action, following the official call guidelines.

Step 5: Implement and Sustain the Network

Successful projects are expected to build long-term cooperation structures that continue beyond the funding period.

Why European Youth Together Matters

European Youth Together plays a critical role in strengthening youth participation and democratic engagement across Europe.

It helps:

• Build durable youth networks with long-term impact

• Reduce barriers faced by disadvantaged and under-represented young people

• Reinforce a shared European identity among youth

• Modernise youth work through digital and innovative practices

• Support youth-led solutions to common European challenges

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following pitfalls:

• Treating the project as a one-off event rather than a long-term network

• Insufficient involvement of young people in decision-making

• Weak links to EU Youth Strategy priorities

• Overly national-focused activities with limited European added value

• Poor justification of the lump-sum budget

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is European Youth Together?

European Youth Together is an Erasmus+ funding action that supports transnational youth networks promoting cooperation, inclusion, and democratic participation across Europe.

How much funding can a project receive?

Projects can receive up to €500,000 in EU funding, covering up to 80% of the total project budget.

How long do European Youth Together projects last?

Projects typically run for 24 months, with possible extensions if well justified.

Who can apply as a coordinator?

Only not-for-profit organisations and public bodies working in the youth field can act as coordinators.

Can for-profit organisations participate?

Yes, for-profit organisations may participate as partners but cannot coordinate projects.

Are non-EU countries eligible?

Yes, organisations from third countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme are eligible to participate.

Do activities have to be physical?

No, activities can be physical, online, or hybrid, encouraging digital and innovative cooperation methods.

Conclusion

European Youth Together is a flagship Erasmus+ action designed to strengthen transnational youth cooperation at European scale. By supporting inclusive, youth-led, and value-based networks, it enables young people and youth organisations to actively shape democratic life, solidarity, and cooperation across borders.

Organisations with strong transnational capacity and a clear commitment to EU youth priorities can use this funding to build sustainable partnerships that deliver long-term impact for young people across Europe.