The European Commission has opened the 2026 Call for Affiliated Partners within the European Reference Networks (ERNs). This call aims to strengthen collaboration across Europe and to improve access to highly specialised care for patients with rare and complex diseases.

What are Affiliated Partners?

Affiliated Partners are healthcare providers designated by their Member State to collaborate with one or more European Reference Networks. They operate in countries where the ERN does not yet have a member centre, allowing these countries to benefit from the network’s expertise and resources.

Affiliated Partners are healthcare providers or institutions that are designated at national level to collaborate with an ERN.

Affiliated Partners take one of two forms:

  • Associated National Centres are healthcare providers with specialised expertise that aligns with the network’s thematic domain. They focus primarily on providing healthcare directly related to the activities and services of the specific network.
  • National Coordination Hubs are institutions with the capacity and knowledge to link the national healthcare system to one or more European Reference Networks. They do not require specific medical expertise in rare diseases; instead, they act as interfaces between national healthcare systems and the networks.

Affiliated Partners play an important role in connecting national healthcare systems to ERNs, facilitating knowledge exchange, and improving patient pathways.

Who can apply?

The 2026 call is open to selected countries that are not yet fully represented across all ERNs. For ERN GUARD-Heart, the eligible countries include Greece, Cyprus, Norway, Bulgaria, and Latvia.
Each eligible country may submit up to three applications per missing ERN.

Timeline and application process

Interested healthcare providers should contact their National Competent Authority in good time. The National Competent Authority is responsible for coordinating applications at the national level and submitting them to the European Commission.

Key dates:

  • Deadline for submission: 1 September 2026, 23:59 CEST
  • Eligibility check: September 2026
  • ERN Coordinator assessment: October 2026 to January 2027
  • Board of Member States vote: March 2027
  • Signed bilateral cooperation agreements: April 2027

Full details of the call, including technical annexes, designation letter templates, the bilateral cooperation agreement template, and frequently asked questions, are available on the European Commission’s dedicated page.

Download the Commission’s information webinar slides for further details on the scope, procedures, and timeline.

For questions about ERN GUARD-Heart specifically, contact ERN Coordination Office