Deadline Date: May 07, 2026
The European Commission is requesting grant applications to enhance the detection of illicit trade and improve cooperation between authorities in the fight against fraud, corruption, and financial crime.
The focus areas include providing technical knowledge, specialised and technically advanced equipment, and effective IT tools to enhance transnational and multidisciplinary cooperation and cooperation with the Commission; boosting staff exchanges for specific projects, including support for joint investigation teams and cross-border operations; providing technical and operational support for national investigations, particularly for customs and law enforcement authorities; building IT capacity in Member States and third countries, increasing data exchange, and developing IT tools for investigating and monitoring intelligence work; organising specialised training, fraud analysis workshops, conferences, and studies to improve cooperation and coordination between departments responsible for protecting EU financial interests; and strengthening operational and technical capacity to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods, including cigarettes and tobacco imported to evade VAT, customs duties, or excise taxes, along with specialised training to enable staff to operate these tools effectively.
This funding opportunity, under EUAF-2026-TA Technical Assistance, has a total budget of EUR 10,800,000, with a minimum grant of EUR 100,000 and a maximum requestable grant of EUR 1,620,000, corresponding to 15% of the available call budget. Eligible participants must be legal entities such as national or regional public authorities or international organisations tasked with protecting EU financial interests, and for training initiatives, research and educational institutes or non-profit entities that support EUAF objectives. Participants must be from EU Member States, listed EEA countries, countries associated with the EUAF Programme, or countries in ongoing negotiations for association agreements that are effective before grant signature, and must have been established and operating for at least one year.
This initiative represents a strategic effort to enhance cross-border cooperation, strengthen investigative and technical capacities, and equip authorities with the tools and training needed to prevent illicit trade and protect the EU’s financial resources.
For more information, visit European Commission.
