Transnational Cooperation

TNC Factsheet - Germany

This page provides information on rules and eligibility criteria relating to transnational cooperation (TNC) projects in Germany.

Page contents

This Factsheet describes the rules for LEADER TNC in Germany.

The information can be translated to all EU languages using the “Translate this page” function accessible at the bottom of the page. You can also print the TNC Factsheet (or any page of this website) or save it as a pdf file using the right-click function of your mouse.

For any questions or updates, please contact us at leader@eucapnetwork.eu.

Germany is a federal republic made up of 13 federal states (Bundesländer). Each federal state is responsible for implementing LEADER in its own territory. The information in this factsheet refers to the rules and criteria common to most federal states.

General information

  • Local Action Groups (LAGs) could start Transnational Cooperation (TNC) activities just after approval, which started in some regions in 2023 and was finished in the first half of 2024. Activities = first actions for initiation of TNC.
  • TNC themes and priorities in the Local Development Strategy (LDS) are defined by the LAGs as part of their LDS in the large majority of Germany. It is frequently expected that if an LDS takes TNC into account, it is a positive aspect during LAG selection.
  • TNC budget in the LDS is defined by the LAGs as part of their LDS in the majority of German Bundesländer. There are a few exceptions, where the Managing Authorities define a TNC budget within the overall budget which has been distributed.
  • Calls for TNC projects: In the majority of German Bundesländer, the calls are defined by the LAGs and launched according to their own schedule or are continuously open. In most cases, these calls follow the timeline and treatment of the normal non-TNC calls.
  • Average (planned) time for official approval: 3-6 months.
  • No list of possible cooperation themes is published by the Managing Authority (MA) in the CSP or other official documents. There are no themes specified ex ante by the MA, but, of course, the themes have to comply with the fields of action described in the LDS.
  • Guidelines on TNC in LEADER/CLLD for the 2023-2027 programming period available in German language. Germany refers to existing guidelines from the European Commission translated into German.

Detailed information about eligibility criteria

Types of eligible territory and stakeholders

  • Types of territory that can be covered in a TNC project include rural and non-rural territories in the EU, and rural territories in third countries (non-EU)
  • Types of eligible partners in a TNC project can include LAGs in rural territories in the EU. Other options are not excluded but are very rare.
  • Types of stakeholders eligible for preparatory support for TNC projects include, first of all, LAGs, but others are not excluded.
  • The existence of a leader partner is one of the eligibility criteria for a TNC project.

Eligible actions and costs

  • Costs eligible related to actions for preparatory support: (not final)
    • Meetings, networking, training
    • Participation at events
    • Study trips
    • Feasibility study for the TNC project
    • Interpretation and translation 
    • Travel expenses
    • External management costs
  • Eligible actions for TNC projects (provisional)
    • Joint products
    • Joint services
    • Joint events
    • Website development
    • Marketing and promotion
    • Local actions directly linked to the TNC project (for example, local events or capacity building for relevant local stakeholders, etc.) 
  • Eligible costs for TNC projects: (not final, and for indirect costs mostly as a 15 % flat rate depending on the direct costs)
    • Share of common costs related to joint publication and/or website 
    • Purchase of equipment for the purposes of the project
    • Expenditure related to local actions directly linked to the TNC project 

Indirect costs: 

  • Rental of venue for meetings and events
  • Translation fees
  • Interpreters' fees
  • Catering (not in all)
  • Accommodation
  • Travel (not in all and only in direct context to the project)
  • Non-eligible costs for TNC: Costs for actions at the local level without direct links with the TNC. Any type of costs generally declared non-eligible in the CAP Strategic Plan, Chapter 4.7.1, in the context of LEADER: any kind of financial costs such as interest on debts, land acquisition in general, or the running costs of an investment project.
  • The use of simplified cost options (SCOs) for TNC: SCOs can be used for preparatory support for TNC. In this context, standard unit costs for personnel costs can be applied.  

Financial information

  • Total public expenditure allocated to TNC projects in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP): This can vary between the federal states or even at the level of the LAG. On the federal level, it can be very different, even on LAG Level. Sometimes, an upper limit is specified
  • The maximum rate of public support can vary between federal states. LAGs can determine this within specific thresholds. 
    • For preparatory support for TNC projects: 20-95 % (mostly 80 % upper limit)
    • For TNC projects: 20-95 % (and depending on competition rules, mostly 80 % upper limit)