The European Commission has launched the 2026 Call for Applications for Affiliated Partners within the European Reference Networks (ERNs). The call is designed to strengthen cross-border collaboration and improve access to highly specialised care for patients with rare, low-prevalence and complex diseases.
Applications will be accepted from 13 April 2026 until 1 September 2026, 23:59 CET.
Why this call matters
ERNs bring together European hospital centres of expertise to tackle rare and complex conditions and support patients through highly specialised healthcare. For Member States that do not yet have full representation in an ERN, Affiliated Partners allow these countries to participate in ERN activities and contribute to the networks’ objectives.
Affiliated Partners may take the form of:
- Associated National Centres (healthcare providers with special expertise aligned to the ERN thematic domain), or
- National Coordination Hubs (institutions linking the national healthcare system with one or more ERNs, including links to rare disease centres).
Objectives of the call
The call aims to:
- improve geographical coverage of ERN expertise across participating countries,
- facilitate access to specialised care where full ERN membership is not yet established,
- strengthen integration of ERNs into national healthcare systems, and
- support cross-border knowledge exchange and clinical collaboration.
Who can apply
The call targets eligible countries that do not have coverage across all ERNs (as full members or affiliated partners). Eligible to apply are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
As an indicative maximum, each eligible country may submit up to three Affiliated Partner applications for each missing ERN.
How to apply
Interested applicants must work through their National Competent Authorities, including completion of the relevant technical annexes:
- Annex 1 & Annex 3 for Associated National Centres, or
- Annex 2 & Annex 4 for National Coordination Hubs,
with submission supported by the dedicated IT application platform.
After submission by the National Competent Authorities, eligibility checks will be performed by the Commission services, followed by assessment by ERN Coordinators and final approval through the Board of Member States.
Indicative timeline
- Call publication: 13 April 2026
- Submission deadline: 1 September 2026
- Eligibility check: September 2026
- ERN assessment/review: October 2026 – January 2027
- BOMS meeting for approval: February 2027 – (indicative)
- Submission of signed bilateral cooperation agreements: March/April 2027 (indicative; dates may change)
Supporting documents
The call is supported by technical and administrative documents (including annexes for Associated National Centres, National Coordination Hubs, designation letters, and the bilateral cooperation agreement), which are available on the DG SANTE dedicated webpage.
