Proteins of the XPF-ERCC1 complex family play roles in DNA repair. Known members (four in mammals, two in budding yeast) recognize branched DNA structures and most bear nuclease activity. Here, we identified a new XPF-ERCC1-like complex important for meiotic crossovers production. Through a proteomic screen, we found that Zip2 and Spo16, two proteins important for CO formation in budding yeast, form a complex and share structural similarities with XPF-ERCC1. Zip2 XPF domain is important for CO formation and, in complex with Spo16, preferentially binds branched DNA molecules. However, Zip2-Spo16 lacks endonucleolytic activity. This suggests that Zip2-Spo16 works as a structural module that recognizes and stabilizes joint molecules to ensure CO formation. Moreover, Zip2-Spo16 forms a complex (called ZZS) with Zip4, another protein important for CO formation, which directly interacts with components of the chromosome axis, providing a link between recombination intermediates and the underlying chromosome structure.