On 22 March, the European Commission launched a call for technical assistance to provide support to communities of stakeholders working with ports, islands and fisheries. Set within the strategic sea basins of the Mission - the Mediterranean, Atlantic & Arctic, Danube, and North & Baltic Sea - this technical assistance aims to empower and guide these communities towards impactful and sustainable feasibility studies for their projects to achieve the Ocean and Waters Mission objectives.

Who are these communities?

1. Ports: e.g. local or regional authorities (including regional agencies, regional planning bodies, regional transport authorities), port authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in port development, professional associations committed to local development initiatives.

2. Islands: e.g. local and regional authorities (including regional agencies, regional planning bodies, regional transport authorities), NGOs active in local development efforts, and professional associations dedicated to addressing island-specific challenges.

3. Fisheries: e.g. local and regional authorities (including regional agencies, regional planning bodies, regional transport authorities), NGOs focused on fisheries communities, professional associations engaged in regional development, researchers dedicated to preserving marine ecosystems, and individuals directly involved in fishing activities.

Objectives and benefits of the technical assistance:

The primary objective of the technical assistance is to align with the specific needs, capacities, and interests of the selected communities. Through tailored expert guidance across regulatory, technical, economic, operational, environmental and commercial dimensions, the technical assistance seeks to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of projects undertaken by these communities. It is important to note that while financial support is not provided under this initiative, participants can expect comprehensive feasibility studies aimed at evaluating project viability, identifying risks and opportunities and offering actionable recommendations for improvement.

Facilitated by a dedicated technical expert group with the support of CINEA and the Mission Secretariat, the technical assistance typically spans a duration of 4-6 months. Applications can be submitted in any of the 24 official EU languages.

Timeline:

The Call for Expression of Interest will be conducted in two distinct cycles:

• Cycle 1: 22 March 2024 to 24 May 2024 at 23:59 CEST, with the selection of successful applicants expected to be communicated by the end of June 2024.
• Cycle 2: Scheduled for September/October 2024 to November/December 2024 (exact dates to be confirmed). This will also provide an opportunity for unsuccessful Cycle 1 candidates to resubmit their applications alongside new applicants.

For more details and to access the application form, visit the website.