The coordinator is the beneficiary chosen by the consortium to manage the project and represent it before the Commission. All payments pass through the coordinator's account, and it is the coordinator who submits the reports and deliverables; the grant agreement expressly forbids delegating these duties to anyone else.
The coordinator is chosen by the participants from among the beneficiaries. In mono-beneficiary projects the single beneficiary is automatically the coordinator.
What they must do
The grant agreement lists the duties precisely: monitor that the action is implemented properly; act as the intermediary for all communications between consortium and Commission; request and review documents from participants and verify their quality and completeness before passing them on; submit deliverables and reports; report on payments made to other beneficiaries; and distribute payments received without unjustified delay.
These may not be delegated
The wording is categorical: the coordinator may not delegate or subcontract these tasks to any other beneficiary or third party, affiliated entities included.
So hiring a consultancy "to coordinate the project" is a direct breach. Administrative support is possible, but the listed duties stay with the coordinator.
There are exactly two narrow exceptions: coordinators that are public bodies may delegate part of the communication and payment tasks to entities they created or control, and coordinators that are sole beneficiaries such as an ERIC may delegate to one of their members. In both cases sole responsibility remains with the coordinator.
The money goes through one account
Something partners often do not expect: the Commission does not pay beneficiaries individually. All payments go to the account indicated by the coordinator.
And a legally important consequence: payment to that account discharges the Commission's payment obligation. From the moment the money reaches the coordinator, the EU has performed, and further distribution is an internal matter for the consortium.
If the coordinator does not distribute, that is resolved within the consortium, not through the Commission. Which is why distribution deadlines belong in the consortium agreement: deadlines fixed there are not "unjustified delay".
Key timings
Other beneficiaries accede through an accession form within 30 days of entry into force. Pre-financing may be distributed only to those who have acceded, and only once the minimum number has.
The periodic report is due 60 days after the period ends; the Commission has 90 days to pay. After the payment letter the coordinator has 30 days to submit observations.
Updated 27.07.2026 · Reviewed by: GetGrant editorial team
