Signaling to enable relay-based user equipment (UE) cooperation (UC) by a group of UEs, and a configuration including an adaptation protocol for processing of UC bearer traffic, are communicated in a wireless communication network. The UC bearer traffic includes a UC bearer and UC bearer attributes, and the UC bearer includes either a split bearer or a duplicated bearer indicated in the UC bearer attributes. In some embodiments, wireless network connectivity that is available for a relay link is determined, and the adaptation protocol is determined based on the determined connectivity. Signaling to enable configuration of the relay link in accordance with the connectivity and the adaptation protocol is communicated. A UE may receive signaling to configure the UE for such a relay link, and communicates traffic between a remote UE and the wireless communication network over the relay link.