1.   Introduction

This call for proposals is based on the Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing ‘Erasmus+’: the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC ( Official Journal of the European Union L 347/50 of 20.12.2013).

2.   Objectives and description

The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) provides the general quality framework for European and international cooperation activities a higher education institution (HEI) may carry out within the Erasmus+ Programme. The award of an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is a pre-requisite for all HEIs located in one of the countries listed below and wanting to apply and participate in learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Programme. For HEIs located in other countries, the ECHE is not required, and the quality framework is established through inter-institutional agreements between HEIs. The Charter is awarded for the full duration of the Erasmus+ Programme. Implementation of the Charter will be monitored and violation of any of its principles and commitments may lead to its withdrawal by the European Commission.

3.   Eligible applicants

HEIs established in one of the following countries are eligible to apply for an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education:

—	the 28 Member States of the European Union;

—	the EFTA-EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway);

—	the EU candidate countries (Serbia (1), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey).

The National Authorities will designate, among the applicants, the Higher Education Institutions (2) to be considered eligible to participate in learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Erasmus+ Programme, in their respective territories.

4.   Deadline for the submission of applications and indicative date of publishing selection results

The online application form duly completed must be submitted online by 12.00 h (noon, Brussels time, Central European Time, CET) on 22 March 2018.

The indicative date of publishing the selection results is 30 September 2018.

5.   Full details

The information about the Erasmus+ Programme can be found at the following internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus

Applications must be submitted according to the guidelines provided by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency and available at the address:

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/erasmus-charter-for-higher-education-2014-2020-selection-2019_en

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(1)  Serbian Higher Education Institutions will be able to apply under the 2019 ECHE call but their charter can only be awarded once Serbia has obtained the status as an Erasmus+ Programme country.

(2)  A ‘higher education institution’ as defined in Article 2 of the Erasmus+ legal base is:

(a)	any type of higher education institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers recognised degrees or other recognised tertiary level qualifications, whatever such establishment may be called;

(b)	any institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers vocational education or training at tertiary level;