Four Horizon Europe projects BlueActionAA, BlueActionBANOS, TASC-RestoreMed, and SoS2LearnDBS have launched open calls for Community-Led Actions and Transition Agendas in the Lighthouse basins of the Atlantic & Arctic, Baltic & North Sea, Mediterranean, and Danube–Black Sea. These calls invite local communities, authorities, NGOs, research institutions, and other eligible organisations to apply for funding and technical support to implement practical, on-the-ground solutions that restore marine and freshwater ecosystems, reduce pollution, and advance a sustainable blue economy. Representing a new phase of the Mission Ocean and Waters, these initiatives focus on basin-wide deployment and community-driven action.
Open calls provide funding for one or both of the following types, depending on the project:
- Community-Led Actions: Local communities, organisations, and authorities implement high-impact solutions to restore ecosystems, reduce pollution, and foster sustainable blue economies.
- Transition Agendas: Strategic roadmaps and governance models for long-term sustainability, engaging local authorities, citizens, and stakeholders.
TASC-RestoreMed (Mediterranean Basin)
The TASC-RestoreMed Open Call offers around €8 million in total funding to support community-led and policy-oriented initiatives across the Mediterranean. The Community-Led Actions call provides €7 million for projects ranging from €200,000 to €1.4 million, allowing local communities, organisations, and authorities to implement and scale high-impact innovations to protect and restore ecosystems, reduce pollution, and advance the blue transition over up to 24 months. The Transition Agenda Development calls offers €1 million in grants, up to €100,000 per project, supporting the creation of strategic roadmaps and governance models for long-term regional sustainability. For both, the submission deadline is 27 May 2026, 17:00 CET,
BlueActionBANOS (Baltic & North Sea)
BlueActionBANOS supports the Baltic and North Sea Lighthouse Area with funding and technical assistance for both Community-Led Actions and Transition Agendas. Community-Led Actions grants range from €200,000 to €2 million for consortia of 2–12 entities, supporting action-oriented projects that tackle pollution, restore marine ecosystems, or advance sustainable blue economy solutions over 24 months. Transition Agendas provide up to €100,000 per project or consortium of up to three entities for developing strategic roadmaps for sustainable systemic shifts over 18 months. For both, the project idea form submission deadline is 29 May 2026, 17:00 CET.
BlueActionAA (Atlantic & Arctic)
BlueActionAA focuses on the Atlantic and Arctic regions, offering cascading grants and technical assistance to support Community-Led Actions that restore marine and freshwater ecosystems. The initiative encourages communities to pilot and implement innovative solutions that reduce pollution, enhance biodiversity, and drive a carbon-neutral, circular blue economy. The submission deadline is 29 May 2026, 14:00 CET, The Transition Agenda Call will launch in January 2026, complementing community-led projects with strategic roadmaps and governance plans for long-term sustainability.
SoS2LearnDBS (Danube River Basin & Black Sea)
The SoS2LearnDBS Open Call targets the Danube River Basin and Black Sea regions, supporting Community-Led Actions through Tier 1 (€200,000–€400,000) and Tier 2 (€500,000–€1,000,000) grants for projects lasting 18–30 months. Eligible applicants include legal entities representing local Mission Communities, such as regional authorities, NGOs, research institutions, SMEs, and waterfront or inland water communities. Funded projects focus on ecosystem restoration, plastic pollution reduction, sustainable fisheries, and nature-based solutions. The submission deadline is 30 March 2026, 17:00 CET.
Why these calls matter
These open calls represent a new wave of Mission implementation, shifting from planning to practical, basin-wide deployment of solutions. They offer organisations and communities unique opportunities to:
- Implement and replicate innovative solutions on the ground;
- Strengthen collaborations across regions, sectors, and stakeholder groups;
- Contribute directly to shared goals of marine and freshwater ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction, and sustainable blue economy development;
- Leverage financial and technical support to accelerate local impact and strengthen governance and policy engagement.
By participating, organisations can directly help advance the objectives of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, while making tangible contributions in their own regions and across the four Lighthouse basins.
