BlueActionBANOS Cascade Funding Calls: build your local coalition for Ocean and Water Restoration by 2030 and apply before 16 March

One week left to apply: BlueActionBANOS Cascade Funding Calls for local coalitions for aquatic restoration in the Baltic and North Sea basin

The BlueActionBANOS project is calling on local and regional public authorities, private sector actors, academia, and civil society across the Baltic and North Sea basins to join forces and submit their project ideas for its cascade funding calls for Community-Led Actions and Transition Agendas. With the deadline for submitting the mandatory Project Idea Form set for 16 March 2026, now is the time to build local coalitions and take action towards the EU Mission to restore our ocean and waters by 2030.

Why does this matter? 

BlueActionBANOS is empowering communities to lead the transition to a carbon-neutral, circular blue economy and restore local marine and aquatic environments. Through two open cascade funding calls, for Community-Led Actions and Transition Agendas, the project offers financial support, technical guidance and matchmaking to help consortia implement impactful, innovative solutions.

  • Community-Led Actions: Grants range from 200.000 to 2 million euros per consortium, with up to 500.000 euros per entity. These funds support ambitious, multi-partner projects that scale up and deploy established solutions for pollution reduction, ecosystem restoration and sustainable blue economy practices.
  • Transition Agendas: Grants of up to 100.000 euros per project are available to develop strategic roadmaps for local and regional transitions, ensuring long-term impact and alignment with EU Mission objectives. 

What does a Community-Led Action or Transition Agenda look like?

Recent BlueActionBANOS webinars showcased inspiring examples; the presentations are available here. 

  • Jānis Ulme, chair of the Board of the Foundation for Environmental Education Latvia (FEE Latvia) presented the citizen science campaign ‘My Sea’ (‘Mana jūra’), which he founded in 2012 and has since evolved into a nation-wide network for monitoring and collecting marine litter, covering more than 40 sites and 500 kilometres of Latvian coastline. Working closely with citizens, municipalities and policymakers, ‘My Sea’ continues to drive community-led action toward a cleaner Baltic Sea. 
  • Jenny Herbertsson, environmental Strategist and Water Coordinator at Katrineholm Municipality presented the LIFE Integrated Project ‘Rich Waters’. Operating in the Northern Baltic Sea River Basin, ‘Rich Waters’ aims to tackle the manifold environmental issues that affect the region’s inland water bodies. Through municipal water planning and targeted action, a broad community of authorities, municipalities, companies, researchers, and conservation groups pushes back against eutrophication, internal nutrient loading and pollution. In the process, they have devised solutions that are now ready for deployment in lakes and watercourses elsewhere, for the benefit of our common waters.
  • Lancelot Blondeel, researcher at the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), presented the OVIS-funded transition agenda ‘Fisheries Sustainability: Strategy’. Through a feasibility study and benchmark comparison, this project develops a strategy toward long‑term market access for the Belgian sustainability label ‘Fisheries sustainability’.

Who can apply?

Proposals may concern actions within one BANOS country, or span multiple countries, and must address at least one of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters objectives:

  • Protection and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity 
  • Prevention and elimination of pollution of our oceans, seas and waters 
  • Making the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular 

The call for community-led actions is open to consortia of 2 to 12 entities based in the following Baltic and North Sea basin (BANOS) countries: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Applicants from other EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries outside the BANOS area may be eligible in special cases, where justified. The emphasis is on inclusive partnerships, bringing together public authorities, NGOs, research institutions and private companies to co-create and implement solutions that address local challenges and contribute to the broader EU Mission goals. 

The call for transition agendas is open to individual entities or consortia of up to 3 entities. Proposed Transition Agendas must focus on a region located in the BANOS lighthouse area.

Why public authorities should lead the way? 

Public authorities are uniquely positioned to convene and coordinate local coalitions. By participating in Blue Action BANOS, they can:

  • access 100% funding for implementing innovative restoration solutions and transition agendas.
  • receive expert guidance and hands-on support throughout the project lifecycle.
  • connect with peers, funders and policymakers to share experiences and scale successful solutions. 
  • drive sustainable change at local and regional levels, aligning with the EU’s ambition for a restored, resilient, and thriving blue environment by 2030. 

Key dates: two-step application procedure

  • Project Idea Form submission deadline: 16 March 2026, 17:00 CET. Please note this is a mandatory step.
  • After an online consultation, a full proposal must be submitted by 29 May 2026, 14:00 CET.

Discover here all details of the Open Call for Community-Led Actions and the Open Call for Transition Agendas. 

ERRIN’s involvement in BlueActionBANOS

ERRIN is a full partner in the Blue Action BANOS project, which is coordinated by the SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth, and brings together 18 partners from across the Baltic and North Sea basins. It is part of the EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030' and is supported by the Horizon Europe programme.