Beyond Borders Neighbours Together

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Which countries from outside the European Union are eligible for youth cooperation within Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps?

Both programmes are open for cooperation with the partners from outside the EU. The key role is played by so called “neighbouring partner countries”, also called “third countries not associated to the programme”). These countries are grouped in the following way:

1. South-Mediterranean (supported by the SALTO EuroMed): Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia;
2. Western Balkans (supported by the SALTO South East Europe): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro;
3. Neighbourhood East (supported by the SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine;
4. Russian Federation (supported by the SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus)

Please note, that in the European Solidarity Corps, we have two more neighbouring partner countries that are full Programme countries in the Erasmus+:

• Serbia, supported by the SALTO South East Europe
• Norway, supported by the SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus

To make it a little bit easier to imagine, we have created a map for you.

Who supports cooperation with neighbouring partner countries?

The European Commission has created regional SALTO Resource Centres to help the National Agencies to work with the neighbouring partner countries. Three centres were created: in 2000, SALTO EuroMed based in the French NA; in 2002, SALTO South East Europe (Western Balkans) based in the Slovenian NA; and in 2003, SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus (Eastern Neighbourhood and Russian Federation) based in the Polish NA.

In 2021, some National Agencies and the three regional SALTOs initiated the strategic cooperation project “Beyond Borders – Neighbours Together” in order to step up support for the cooperation with neighbouring partner countries. Each year, we offer a number of activities and initiatives together, which support this cooperation – from events targeting grass-roots level organisations to bigger political conferences as well as promotion and information activities. We hope that more National Agencies will be joining and supporting this joint endeavor!

What are the regional SALTO Resource Centres?

Based within the French, Slovenian and Polish NAs, we are little teams of 4-5 persons each supporting the youth cooperation with the neighbouring partner countries in areas, such as:

• information and promotion of the opportunities offered by both programmes, targeting beneficiaries in partner and Programme countries interested in developing joint projects and activities;
• capacity building through trainings, seminars and other activities involving youth work practitioners and trainers from neighbouring and programme countries;
• horizontal and transversal initiatives, where we enhance the aspects of cooperation with neighbouring partner countries: supporting different strategic NA cooperation projects (SNACs) and other strategic and long-term initiatives of National Agencies, the European Commission as well as stakeholders in the wider European youth work field.

Furthermore, within the European Solidarity Corps, the regional SALTOs carry out the Quality Label process for organisations in neighbouring partner countries wishing to take part in the Programme as supporting organisations as well as coordinate and organise rgular on-arrival and mid-term sessions for volunteers hosted in the regions and final events for volunteers that have returned from their volunteering project in a Programme country.

What formats of projects with neighbouring partner countries are possible for youth organisations within Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps?

Our programmes are quite open for cooperation with the neighbouring partner countries. Well, in the end it is an official “important feature” of both programmes.

• First of all, KA1 of Erasmus+ is fully open for collaborations, providing the opportunity for organisations to organise joint youth exchanges, youth participation projects and mobilities of youth workers;
• In the European Solidarity Corps, international volunteering is fully available and Humanitarian Aid volunteering projects must be hosted in partner countries;
• Additionally, in KA2, Capacity Building in the Field of Youth is specifically targeting cooperation with partner countries, and Cooperation Partnerships are partially open.
• Find out more about each kind of format.

Where can I find examples of projects with neighbouring partner countries?

First of all, your National Agency might have financed such project(s) in the past. Please check with your NA colleagues – and if you find inspiring and well documented projects, let us know, so we can also spread the word about them!

Within the strategic cooperation project Beyond Borders, on the www.beyondb.eu portal, you can find examples of different projects.

You are also welcome to write an email to the regional SALTOs. We might be able to help you find what you need (contacts below).

Can we have TCA / NET projects including neighbouring partner countries?

Of course! Actually, without the TCA / NET budgets and the involvement of the National Agencies, the regional SALTOs could do much less. Each year, we implement a number of international TCA / NET activities, benefiting both, the participants and organisations from partner but also from Programme countries, youth workers and youngsters. TCA / NET projects involving neighbouring partners foster intercultural learning, awareness and respect of pluralism and diversity, critical thinking as well as a stronger interest in democratic citizenship and human rights issues.

What are the key obstacles in the cooperation with partner countries?

Despite the positive aspects mentioned above, some organisations find the cooperation with neighbouring partner countries challenging due to:

• Visa issues,
• Travel length, distance,
• Political situation and security,
• Erasmus+ or ESC programme-related limitations.

Visa issues play a role in cooperation with about half of all the neighbouring countries (mostly EuroMed), as the European Union has a visa free regime with quite many of these countries (mostly the Western Balkans). The regional SALTOs advise to take into account the visa procedure in the project plan, as it might take 6-10 weeks to arrange the visas. Many organisations underline that gaining this experience once, makes it much easier in the future.

“Partner countries are far away”, we often hear. But we also know that this often describes a mental rather than a geographical distance. Traveling from Warsaw, Vienna or Budapest to a neighbouring country like Ukraine, Moldova or Bosnia and Herzegovina is closer than traveling to Paris or Brussels. The same goes for the distance between Athens or Madrid to many SouthMed countries.

The political situation in some neighbouring partner countries is indeed unstable, and we all know some of these countries are at war. Following closely the news prior to the project and getting informed, is not only a good way to avoid troubles, but also to expand understanding of the EU neighbourhood. The regional SALTOs can also offer their expertise in that area.

Some organisations express that they are hesitant to cooperate with neighbouring partner countries because these projects are less likely to be granted. There are different reasons for this view, but the only formal limitation is the 25% budget limit of Key Action 1 in Erasmus+. All the other formats of cooperation do not have any restrictions in these regards.  And we know from many National Agencies that projects involving neighbouring partner countries often receive more points in the assessment.

Contact the regional SALTOs:

• Eastern Europe and Caucasus: eeca@salto-youth.net
• EuroMed: euromed@salto-youth.net
• South East Europe: see@salto-youth.net