The Just Transition Program has opened the direct support call for social enterprises in Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova, and Mureș. The deadline has been extended until October 7, 2026, making it one of the most accessible open calls at this moment.
The call opened on February 6, 2026, and was scheduled to close on August 7. Through Ministerial Order no. 1248/2026, the deadline was extended by two months, until October 7, 2026, at 14:00. Extensions of this type usually occur when the number of submitted projects is below expectations.
The grant ranges from 50,000 up to 300,000 euros per enterprise, and the required own contribution is only 5%, mandatory in cash. This is one of the lowest co-financing rates in the entire landscape of European funds in Romania, making the call accessible even for entities with limited financial resources.
The eligibility condition that most restricts the circle of applicants is the status. Not just any company can apply, but only existing social enterprises, meaning entities that hold a social enterprise certificate according to current legislation. A regular commercial company does not qualify, regardless of how social the impact of its activity may be.
The second condition is territorial: the headquarters or branch office must be located in one of the six counties covered by the Just Transition Fund. These are areas with historical dependence on the extractive and energy industries, where restructuring has generated massive job losses.
For entities that meet both conditions, the window until October 2026 provides real time to prepare the file, a rarity in the current landscape. For companies that do not have a social enterprise certificate, obtaining it is an administrative process that takes time, so it cannot be resolved in the final weeks before the deadline.
It is worth emphasizing what the status of a social enterprise concretely means in Romanian legislation under Legea economiei sociale (Social Economy Law). This refers to entities that meet specific criteria regarding profit reinvestment, participatory governance, and the declared social objective. They can be commercial companies, cooperatives, associations, or foundations with economic activity. The certificate is obtained from the county agencies for employment, and the process involves documentation and time.
For companies that already have activities with real social impact but do not have the certificate, obtaining it can open access to a whole category of financing currently unavailable to them: not just this call, but also the social economy components within the Programul Incluziune și Demnitate Socială (Inclusion and Social Dignity Program) and regional programs. It is an administrative investment that pays off quickly.
What you need to know
- Grant: 50,000 - 300,000 EUR per enterprise
- Co-financing: minimum 5%, mandatory in cash
- Eligible: existing social enterprises, with certificate, from Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova, Mureș
- Deadline: October 7, 2026, 14:00. Call OPEN
Source: