Accessible and available travel facilitation

Scope: Facilitation of travel and border crossings at border crossing points (BCPs) across the external EU borders went, and is further going, through developments thanks to updated procedures and regulatory frameworks and to innovative European technologies. From automated border control (ABC) gates to “no-gate” solutions and “seamless travel”, and with systems like the Entry-Exit System (EES), the Electronic Travel and Information Authorisation System (ETIAS), and the development of digital travel credentials and digital identity more in general, Europe has one of the most advanced, secure and facilitated border check systems in the world. Travel facilitation schemes are still not as fair, inclusive and accessible as they should be. There are several technical exceptions that for example make difficult for families, other groups of people travelling together, people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility, or with relatively lower digital skills, to smoothly use travel and border crossing facilitation solutions. This is a capability gap of travel facilitation systems that has an impact on both a fair accessibility and availability for travellers, and on performance and efficiency of the systems themselves. Travel facilitation systems should ensure both security and easy passenger flow, while remaining accessible to all travellers. On the other hand, both technical systems and procedures may have differences depending on the context or the BCP of application. This may be a limit for the performance and user experience of European integrated border management, especially in a perspective of a larger help to national members of the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) from the Standing Corps of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCGA). According to the EBCG Capability Roadmap, legal border crossings should be as swift and simple as possible, while at the same time allowing a smooth crossing of bona fide persons, and of the goods carried with them. Innovation actions funded under this topic will develop and test solutions for advanced seamless travel and border crossing and/or visa procedures, protecting and promoting fundamental rights, minimising the risk for bias and being accessible for all travellers, with no or minimised limitations depending on age, sex, gender, disability, physical or digital abilities. To minimise potential for discrimination or physical or digital divide regarding travel facilitation schemes, solutions should be inclusive and accessible. Furthermore, solutions should be tested for use with the same approach by all European border control staff in all conditions and BCPs. The proposed solutions can include innovative technologies, innovative processes, innovative knowledge and/or a combination thereof. Solutions should include automated decision support systems suggesting to the end-users (border checks operators) which procedure, technology or database can be used without infringing rights of travellers. Solutions should also integrate and, if appropriate, further develop, biometric matching that minimises data shared (for example limiting to matching scores) to improve data protection. Proposals submitted under this topic are expected to address the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard and of its Agency (Frontex) and of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). This should start from the definition of requirements and the design phase of their work, including basing on the EBCG Capability Roadmap; and on the engagement with the Agencies during the implementation of the project. At the stage of proposal preparation, Frontex and eu-LISA will not provide any guidance on, or otherwise be involved in the preparation of, project proposals. Proposals should consider and foresee that Frontex and eu-LISA may observe pilots and demonstrations when the project will be implemented, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the border, customs and coast guard community. To ensure the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project. Depending on the particular scope of the proposal, participation of Customs Authorities is welcome. Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Eligibility and submission conditions

"> General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide . 3. Other Eligible Conditions In line with the “ restriction on control in innovation actions in critical technology areas ” delineated in General Annex B of the General Annexes, entities established in an eligible country but which are directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in the action. Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. The following additional eligibility criteria apply: This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual . 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [This [decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf ]]. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) Lump Sum MGA Call-specific instructions Detailed budget table (HE LS) Information on financial support to third parties (HE) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Programme context

Proposals submitted under this Destination should contribute to the expected impact of the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027: “facilitating legitimate movement of passengers and goods into the EU, while preventing illicit acts”. This Destination will support the implementation of the European Commission Political Guidelines 2024-2029, with research and innovation for future border management contributing to resilience and competitiveness. This includes investing in the update and development of future European digital and integrated border management that respects and promotes EU values. This will contribute to equip European border, coast guards and customs authorities with the future European state-of-the-art solutions, as well as to the preparedness and capabilities to manage future challenges across the EU external borders, including potential instrumentalisation of migration, hybrid attacks, migrant smuggling, and trafficking linked to transnational terrorism and/or organised crime. Research and innovation under this Destination will focus on preserving and securing the basic right to feel secure and on protecting and promoting fundamental rights as a priority for both European citizens and third country nationals. It will do so by funding projects which will study, develop and test possible future solutions that both strengthen, and make safer, European borders. Projects funded under this Destination will promote technological and social research and innovation and further explore and develop solutions that enhance the technological sovereignty of European authorities, in the areas of border management, customs and supply chain security, and civilian aviation and maritime security. To this end, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts: explore and develop future capabilities for European users in the areas of border management, customs and supply chain security, and civilian maritime security, in particular in the capability areas of: border surveillance; facilitating travel and legitimate trade; assessing and managing risk; strengthening the Schengen area without introducing internal border controls; maritime, aviation, land transport, cargo and customs security; supply chain resilience; detecting and identifying threats; interoperability and cybersecurity of EU information systems and equipment; safeguarding and promoting fundamental rights in the context of border management. Research and innovation funded under this Destination will contribute to policy objectives such as: the Multiannual Strategic Policy for European Integrated Border Management [1] ; the implementation of the Capability Roadmap of the European Border and Coast Guard [2] and its updates; the proposals to strengthen EU legislation to prevent and fight against migrant smuggling [3] ; the proposals on digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel [4] ; the new European Internal Security Strategy [5] ; the new Counter-Terrorism Agenda; the European Preparedness Union Strategy [6] ; the EU Port Strategy; the civil security aspects of the updated EU Maritime Security Strategy [7] and of the European Ocean Pact; the Copernicus service for Security [8] improving crisis prevention, preparedness and response in four key areas: Border surveillance; Maritime surveillance; Support to EU External and Security Actions, R&D for Earth Observation Security; the EU Cable Security Action Plan [9] ; the new European action plans against drug trafficking and against weapons trafficking; the proposals for EU Customs reform [10] , including the proposed EU Customs Authority and Data Hub; the security aspects of the Comprehensive EU toolbox for safe and sustainable e-commerce [11] ; the security aspects of the Competitiveness Compass for the EU [12] . Research and innovation will contribute to sustain and improve capabilities to cope with potential future critical situations or emerging challenges regarding both the flow of people and the flow of goods across external EU borders. These capabilities may include but not limit to: monitoring, preparedness and reaction in border management tasks, managing irregular or illegal activities involving people or goods across external borders of the EU; safeguarding and promoting fundamental rights and EU values, and ensuring legal compliance, in efficient border management; efficiency, performance, environmental impact and reaction in border management tasks in all geographical and meteorological conditions; integrated and continuous border surveillance, situational awareness and analysis support; safety, user experience and performance of practitioners’ staff in border management; security, privacy and usability of identity and (travel) documents and credentials; facilitating travel of bona fide passengers across external borders of the EU; prevention, detection and disruption of trafficking of dangerous, illicit and illegal goods and materials through external borders of the EU and the supply chain. Furthermore, research and innovation under this Destination will contribute to: safeguard the technological sovereignty of the EU in critical security areas by contributing to a more competitive and resilient EU security technology and industrial base; lower the environmental impact and footprint of border, customs and supply chain security tasks, through innovative solutions and methods; integrate and improve safety and cybersecurity of EU information systems, of innovative equipment, and of information and data in these areas, especially during their exchange at operational or tactical levels; improve interoperability both among proposed solutions and also with future technological developments in the areas of border management, customs and supply chain security, and civilian maritime and aviation security. Research projects funded under this Destination should engage with all stakeholders involved, including travellers, migrants, and operators, as relevant. Projects should align and contribute primarily to the realisation of the Capability Roadmap of the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) published by the EBCG Agency (Frontex), especially the Roadmap’s mid- and long-term perspectives. The Roadmap provides strategic vision for investments into the development of capabilities and is the result of integrated planning between the Member States and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Proposals submitted under this Destination should explain the alignment primarily with the Capability Roadmap and the plans for further uptake of the research outcomes, especially by involved practitioners in line with their national Capability Development Plans. Frontex will be closely associated with and will assist Member States and the European Commission in drawing up and implementing relevant research and innovation activities. The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) may also assist the European Commission on relevant research and innovation activities and specific topics. At the proposal preparation stage, Frontex and/or eu-LISA will not provide guidance on or otherwise be involved in the preparation of project proposals. However, proposals should consider and anticipate that Frontex and/or eu-LISA may observe pilots and demonstrations during project implementation to facilitate the future uptake of innovations within the border and coast guard community. To accomplish the objectives of this Destination, additional eligibility conditions have been defined regarding the active involvement of relevant security practitioners or end-users in the research projects’ consortia. Cross-community and cross-authority synergies within civil security can be an asset, for example in relation to combat crime and terrorism (across external borders); Disaster-Resilient Society (regarding natural hazards and disasters); Resilient Infrastructure (regarding threats to infrastructures, coming from across borders). Proposals submitted under this Destination should demonstrate how they plan to build on relevant predecessor projects; to consider the citizens’ and societal perspectives; to include education, training and awareness raising for practitioners and citizens; to measure the achieved TRL. Proposals should delineate the plans for further development to subsequent TRLs as well as uptake (industrialisation, commercialisation, acquisition and/or deployment) at national and EU level, should the research deliver on its goals. Knowledge and technologies developed by research funded under this Destination may be taken up or tested operationally with co-funding of instruments such as the Integrated Border Management Fund, in its components of the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) and Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI), and/or subsequent funding instruments. Member States authorities participating in research projects are encouraged to use those instruments for uptake (piloting, testing, validation, scale-up, transfer, acquire, deploy, etc.) of innovative solutions developed from research, as early as TRL 7. Research projects should consider, build on (if appropriate) and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes projects. Successful proposals under this Destination are invited to cooperate with other EU-led or EU-funded initiatives in the relevant domains, such as the Knowledge Networks for Security Research & Innovation funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 3, or other security research and innovation working groups set-up by the Commission or EU Agencies. Funded projects are encouraged to liaise with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), for example with regards to a possibility of testing the relevant research outputs at the JRC Border Security Lab. Where possible and relevant, synergy-building and clustering initiatives with projects in the same area should be considered, in coordination with the Community for European Research and Innovation (CERIS) [13] . Cluster 3 will further incentivise the use of European Space Programmes’ services for border management innovation where relevant and their services and capabilities, including demonstration and validation of new technologies in operational environments. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes. [1] COM (2023) 146 final. [2] FRONTEX MB Decision 16/2024. [3] COM/2023/754 final; COM/2023/755 final. [4] COM (2021) 277 final; COM (2024) 670 final. [5] COM/2025/148 final. [6] JOIN(2025), 130 final. [7] JOIN/2023/8 final. [8] Regulation (EU) 2021/696 [9] JOIN(2025) 9 final [10] COM (2023) 257 final; COM (2023) 258 final – 2023/0156(COD); COM (2023) 259 final – 2023/0157(NLE); COM (2023) 262 final – 2023/0158(CNS). [11] COM(2025) 37 final. [12] COM(2025) 30 final. [13] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/ceris-community-european-research-and-innovation-security_en

Hivatkozott dokumentumok

Annex A Horizon Europe Programme Guide Online Manual [This [decision Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Lump Sum MGA Detailed budget table (HE LS) Information on financial support to third parties (HE) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions