Deadline: 24-Sep-2026
The European Commission’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) Call for Proposals on the Fight Against Corruption is a funding initiative designed to strengthen corruption prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and institutional integrity across participating countries. It supports collaborative, cross-sector actions that reinforce transparency, accountability, and democratic resilience in the European Union and associated regions.
Program Purpose and Core Objectives
The primary goal of the call is to prevent and combat corruption in both public and private sectors while strengthening institutional integrity and public trust.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening prevention and enforcement mechanisms against corruption
- Improving detection, investigation, and prosecution capacities
- Supporting implementation of EU anti-corruption recommendations
- Enhancing transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity
- Promoting cooperation across EU and cross-border stakeholders
- Strengthening democratic governance and rule of law systems
The programme views corruption as a systemic threat to democracy, economic stability, and security.
Strategic Focus Areas
The call prioritizes integrated and evidence-based anti-corruption interventions.
Core thematic areas include:
- EU-level and cross-border anti-corruption cooperation
- Implementation of EU anti-corruption frameworks and recommendations
- Institutional integrity and governance strengthening
- Risk identification and corruption vulnerability reduction
- Transparency in public administration and democratic processes
- Data-driven corruption analysis and measurement methodologies
- Anti-corruption policy development and reform support
Eligible Activities
Projects may include a wide range of preventive and enforcement-oriented interventions.
Prevention and integrity building:
- Development of integrity frameworks in public institutions
- Anti-corruption education and awareness initiatives
- Capacity-building for public sector integrity systems
- Transparency and accountability enhancement measures
Detection and enforcement:
- Tools for corruption risk assessment and monitoring
- Methodologies for detecting and investigating corruption cases
- Support for prosecution, adjudication, and enforcement mechanisms
- Strengthening investigative and judicial capacities
Data, research, and innovation:
- Development of corruption measurement tools and indicators
- Evidence-based policy research and analysis
- Data collection systems for corruption risk mapping
- Innovative digital tools for transparency and oversight
Civil society and media engagement:
- Support for whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms
- Empowerment of civil society organisations and journalists
- Strengthening independent media and investigative journalism
- Public awareness campaigns on corruption risks and prevention
Organised crime linkages:
- Addressing corruption as an enabler of organised crime
- Strengthening mechanisms to detect criminal infiltration into institutions and markets
- Improving cooperation between law enforcement and financial oversight bodies
Target Stakeholders
The programme encourages multi-stakeholder collaboration across governance, civil society, and enforcement systems.
Eligible and target stakeholders include:
- Civil society organisations
- Journalists and media organisations
- Academic and research institutions
- Private sector entities and financial institutions
- National public authorities and ministries
- Anti-corruption agencies and oversight bodies
- Law enforcement and judicial authorities
- European institutions and agencies
Projects must promote cross-sector cooperation and shared anti-corruption strategies.
Eligibility Criteria
The call is open to a broad range of legal entities.
Eligible applicants include:
- Public bodies and government institutions
- Non-profit organisations
- For-profit entities
- International organisations
- Other legal entities established in eligible countries
Key requirements:
- Must be legally established in an eligible country
- Must demonstrate strong European added value
- Must form appropriate partnerships where relevant
- Must contribute to EU anti-corruption policy implementation
Funding Structure
The European Commission has allocated funding to support multiple projects under this call.
Funding details:
- Total budget: €5 million
- Funding type: Grant-based support for project implementation
- Expected scale: Medium-scale collaborative projects
Key implication:
- Highly competitive funding with emphasis on cross-border and systemic impact
Expected Outcomes
Projects funded under this call are expected to deliver long-term structural improvements.
Expected outcomes include:
- Stronger institutional integrity frameworks across participating countries
- Improved detection and prosecution of corruption cases
- Enhanced transparency and accountability in governance systems
- Greater collaboration between public, private, and civil society actors
- Increased public awareness and reporting of corruption
- Improved tools and methodologies for corruption risk analysis
Application and Implementation Approach
The programme promotes structured, partnership-based implementation.
Typical process:
- Step 1: Submission of proposal by eligible consortium
- Step 2: Evaluation by European Commission review process
- Step 3: Selection of funded projects
- Step 4: Implementation across participating countries
- Step 5: Monitoring, reporting, and impact evaluation
Key requirement:
- Strong cross-border or multi-actor collaboration is strongly encouraged
Key Conceptual Framework
Corruption prevention:
- Measures aimed at stopping corruption before it occurs through governance reform, transparency, and institutional safeguards
Corruption detection and enforcement:
- Systems and tools designed to identify, investigate, and prosecute corruption cases effectively
Institutional integrity:
- The strength, transparency, and accountability of public institutions in resisting corruption
European added value:
- Demonstrable benefits that extend beyond national impact and contribute to EU-wide priorities
Why This Call Matters
This funding initiative strengthens governance and democratic resilience by:
- Reducing corruption risks across public and private sectors
- Strengthening trust in democratic institutions
- Enhancing cross-border cooperation in law enforcement and oversight
- Supporting investigative journalism and civil society accountability
- Promoting data-driven and evidence-based anti-corruption strategies
- Addressing corruption as a driver of organised crime and instability
It contributes to a more transparent, accountable, and secure European governance ecosystem.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Proposal mistakes:
- Weak or unclear European added value
- Lack of cross-border or multi-stakeholder collaboration
- Overly narrow or single-sector focus
- Insufficient evidence-based methodology
Design mistakes:
- Absence of measurable outcomes or impact indicators
- Poor integration of prevention, detection, and enforcement components
- Weak sustainability planning beyond project duration
Eligibility mistakes:
- Inadequate legal establishment in eligible countries
- Missing required partnerships in consortium-based proposals
Tips for a Strong Application
Strong proposals typically include:
- Clear alignment with EU anti-corruption priorities
- Multi-stakeholder consortium involving public, private, and civil society actors
- Strong data-driven and evidence-based approach
- Integrated prevention, detection, and enforcement components
Best practices:
- Demonstrate measurable improvements in institutional integrity
- Include innovative tools for corruption detection or transparency
- Strengthen cross-border cooperation mechanisms
- Ensure sustainability of outcomes beyond funding period
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can apply for this call?
- Public bodies, NGOs, private companies, international organisations, and other eligible legal entities.
What is the total funding available?
- €5 million under the Internal Security Fund.
What is the main goal of the programme?
- To prevent and combat corruption while strengthening institutional integrity and transparency.
What types of projects are supported?
- Prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, awareness, and anti-corruption capacity-building projects.
Is cross-border collaboration required?
- It is strongly encouraged and considered a key advantage.
Can private companies apply?
- Yes, for-profit entities are eligible if they meet requirements.
What is “European added value”?
- Demonstrable impact that contributes to EU-wide anti-corruption goals beyond a single country.
Conclusion
The European Commission Internal Security Fund Call on the Fight Against Corruption is a strategic funding initiative aimed at strengthening institutional integrity, transparency, and rule of law across Europe. By supporting cross-border collaboration, evidence-based policy development, and innovative anti-corruption tools, the programme enhances the EU’s capacity to prevent, detect, and prosecute corruption while reinforcing democratic governance and public trust.
For more information, visit European Commission.
