Community-led actions to restore our ocean, seas and waters

An EU-wide Open Call invites consortia of two to twelve entities registered in the Baltic Sea and North Sea Basin (BANOS) riparian states, including local authorities, NGOs, educational institutions, companies, and cooperatives, to develop innovative, community-led measures for the restoration and protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Projects aimed at preventing and eliminating pollution as well as strengthening a carbon-neutral and circular blue economy will be funded. Grants ranging from €200,000 to €2,000,000 are available per project, with individual partners eligible to receive up to €500,000. The project duration is up to 24 months; an initial submission of the project idea is possible until March 16, 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). Up to 15 projects will be selected to empower local actors to engage sustainably with the objectives of the EU Mission “Oceans and Waters.”

The award process is divided into two stages: first, a Project Idea Form must be submitted with individual consultation; subsequently, the full project description is invited. Evaluation is based on the criteria of Relevance, Impact, and Implementation. Selected projects benefit not only from financial support but also from accompanying technical assistance provided by dedicated project managers. The disbursement of the lump-sum funding is linked to the timely achievement of defined milestones set out in the Individual Integrated Project Plan. This structured funding promotes a participatory approach, builds on local expertise, and strengthens long-term commitment to the protection and revitalization of the seas and waters in the BANOS region.