EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Public Health Systems and Cross-Border Disease Surveillance in the Western Balkans

The EU Horizon Europe call 'Strengthening Public Health Systems and Cross-Border Disease Surveillance in the Western Balkans' is a strategic funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027). With a total indicative budget of €25 million, the call aims to enhance the capacity of Western Balkan countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats across borders. The call is part of Cluster 1 (Health) and specifically addresses the need to build resilient health systems that can manage emerging diseases, including those of zoonotic origin, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and vaccine-preventable infections. The Western Balkans are a priority region for the EU due to their strategic location, high migration flows, and ongoing EU integration processes. Weaknesses in public health surveillance in these countries pose risks not only locally but also to neighboring EU member states. Therefore, this call is designed to foster interoperability with EU surveillance systems, such as the European Surveillance System (TESSy) run by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). By investing in digital health platforms, laboratory strengthening, and workforce training, the initiative seeks to create a seamless network for real-time data sharing and early warning. The call encourages a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health surveillance. Applicants must form consortia with at least three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries, and at least one entity from a Western Balkan country. The expected duration of projects is 36-48 months, with EU contributions per project typically in the range of €3-6 million. The call also emphasizes sustainability, requiring co-financing commitments from partners and national governments. This overview underscores the transformative potential of this call for public health in the region, offering a pathway to align with EU standards and contribute to global health security. For organizations considering application, it is crucial to start early, build a strong consortium, and align the proposal with the call's priorities of digitalization, One Health, and cross-border collaboration.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This call is intended for a diverse range of entities operating in the public health and research domains, particularly those with a focus on infectious diseases, health systems strengthening, and cross-border cooperation. Eligible applicants include public health institutes, ministries of health, universities, research centers, hospitals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and private sector entities such as biotech or digital health firms. The call explicitly targets actors in the Western Balkans, who are encouraged to lead or partner with EU-based institutions to foster knowledge transfer and integration. Stakeholders with experience in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, health information systems, and emergency preparedness are especially sought. Additionally, organizations that have previously participated in EU-funded projects (e.g., Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, or IPA instruments) will find alignment easier. The call also values the inclusion of civil society and community-based organizations to ensure that interventions are grounded in local realities and reach vulnerable populations, such as migrants, Roma, and rural communities. For GSLI's audience, this includes NGOs, government agencies, and academic consortia that have a track record in managing EU grants and are looking to expand their portfolio in the Western Balkans. Given the modest budget (€3-6 million per project), consortia should be lean yet multidisciplinary, with clear division of tasks and strong management structures. Start-ups and small enterprises can participate as subcontractors or partners, especially if they offer innovative digital surveillance tools or laboratory technologies.

Priorities

The European Commission's global priorities under this call include strengthening the European Health Union, enhancing pandemic preparedness, and promoting the One Health approach—which recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. The call specifically targets the Western Balkans as a region of strategic importance for EU enlargement and neighborhood policy. Key investment KPIs from the donor's perspective include: (1) increased interoperability between national and EU disease surveillance systems (e.g., ECDC’s TESSy), (2) at least 30% improvement in timely outbreak detection (target: <48 hours from sample to confirmation), (3) establishment of at least two cross-border surveillance networks per project, (4) deployment of digital platforms for real-time data sharing (e.g., use of DHIS2 or similar), (5) training of at least 200 public health professionals in field epidemiology or laboratory diagnostics, and (6) publication of at least 3 peer-reviewed papers per project. Additionally, the donor emphasizes sustainability beyond project end, requiring co-financing or in-kind contributions from partners, as well as commitment from national governments to adopt and fund surveillance technologies post-project. The call also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Austrian Presidency of the EU in 2026 may further highlight regional cooperation, making timing favorable. To align with these priorities, proposals must demonstrate how they will contribute to the Global Health Security Agenda and the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, specifically surveillance, response, and laboratory systems. Furthermore, digital transformation is a cross-cutting priority; the Commission expects projects to leverage AI and big data for predictive analytics and early warning.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this call is defined by specific financial, spatial, and legal criteria. Firstly, the consortium must include at least three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries (including Horizon Europe associated countries like, for example, Norway, Iceland, or Turkey). Additionally, at least one entity must be established in a Western Balkan country (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia). International organizations are eligible, but they must have a legal entity in an EU member state or associated country to qualify as a coordinator. Regarding financial capacity, applicants must demonstrate sufficient operational and financial resources to manage the requested EU contribution (typically €3-6 million). This is assessed through a financial viability check using tools like the Participant Portal’s Financial Capacity Assessment. Projects with a total budget exceeding €5 million may require an audit certificate. The spatial focus is strictly the Western Balkans; all activities must primarily benefit these countries, even if EU partners are involved. Legal compliance requires that all entities have valid participant identification codes (PIC numbers) in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, and they must not be subject to any EU restrictive measures (e.g., sanctions). Furthermore, the call prohibits subcontracting core tasks such as project management and coordination. For NGOs, it is crucial to have official registration in the respective country and a proven track record of at least 3-5 years in public health. Additionally, the consortium must appoint a coordinator who will be the single point of contact and bear legal responsibility for compliance with EU financial regulations (including double-entry accounting, time recording, and procurement rules). Given the relatively long deadline (2026-09-15), applicants have ample time to build consortia and gather supporting documents, but early start is recommended due to the complexity of partner search and budget formulation.

Path to Success

To maximize your chances of securing funding under this Horizon Europe call, follow this strategic roadmap with GSLI integration: Step 1: Consortium Building and Needs Assessment (Months 1-3): Conduct a thorough stakeholder mapping in the Western Balkans, identifying potential partners such as national public health institutes (e.g., Institute of Public Health of Serbia), universities, and NGOs. Use GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to structure your consortium agreement and communication protocols. Evaluate each partner's surveillance capacity gaps through baseline assessments. This ensures you meet the eligibility criteria of at least one Western Balkan entity. Step 2: Co-Design the Intervention with Donor Priorities (Months 4-6): Develop a detailed work plan that aligns with the call's objectives: One Health, digitalization, and cross-border networking. Integrate GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course training for your team to ensure epidemiological rigor in designing surveillance protocols. Also, incorporate 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' principles from GSLI to define KPIs such as time to detection, data completeness, and training reach. Prepare a budget that includes costs for software (e.g., DHIS2 customization) and field operations. Step 3: Write a Strong Proposal with Risk Mitigation and Sustainability (Months 7-9): Draft the proposal using GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course techniques, focusing on a clear problem statement, innovative methods, and impact. Include a risk register covering political instability (e.g., elections), data sharing barriers, and staff turnover. Describe a sustainability plan where public health authorities commit to maintaining the surveillance system post-project. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course can help you set up financial tracking systems compliant with Horizon Europe rules. Ensure the budget is realistic with at least 30% of costs allocated to Western Balkan partners. Step 4: Submission and Post-Award Preparation (Months 10-12): Before the September 2026 deadline, submit through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Use GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to train your finance team on EU cost eligibility (personnel, travel, equipment) and avoid common errors like ineligible VAT. After submission, prepare for potential interviews or clarifications. GSLI also offers 'Procurement & Supply Chain' for logistical aspects of lab equipment procurement. Upon award, use GSLI's 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' to plan co-financing from other sources if needed. This roadmap ensures a well-structured application that resonates with evaluators.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Public Health & Epidemiology
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

Deadline: 2026-09-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal