Deadline: 5-Jun-25
Are you ready to explore how transnational cooperation can unlock the hidden potential of rural and challenged areas, transforming local realities into exciting opportunities? Then submit your Project Idea Form & keep your gateway for Interreg funds open!
Interreg Baltic Sea Region (the Programme) is a source of EU funding for public and private actors whon want to shape the Baltic Sea region to become more innovative, water-smart and climate-neutral. It creates an environment for cooperation across borders to develop, test and put into practice smart solutions for the benefit of people around the Baltic Sea. Its added value is the transnational dimension of the supported actions.
The Programme exploits opportunities and addresses issues which cannot sufficiently be dealt with by single countries, but require a joint response by partners from several countries in the Baltic Sea region.
The Programme is particularly looking for projects supporting the cohesive development of small places, rural areas, and areas experiencing challenges significant to the social and economic fabric of their local communities within the Baltic Sea region.
The Programme seeks projects that are well integrated into the specific territorial context and address a pressing challenge that can be effectively addressed through transnational cooperation within the scope and framework of a small project. These challenges may include, for example:
- Boosting access to services: developing tailored solutions that improve the quality and accessibility of public services (like mobility or healthcare). Emphasis should be placed on reducing isolation and ensuring equitable access to essential services for all citizens.
- Tackling disaster management: Addressing challenges such as flooding and severe storms by enhancing communities’ capacity to adapt and respond effectively. This includes developing preparedness measures and promoting knowledge-sharing in vulnerable regions. Projects may also address multiple types of risks to develop more integrated and comprehensive approaches.
- Enhancing liveability and resilience: Supporting communities in rethinking local activities by combining the sustainable use of natural resources with new ways of generating income. This includes measures improving quality of life and creating better prospects for people to remain in the places they consider home.
Aim
- The Programme’s aim in this call for applications is to contribute to unlocking the potential of the affected areas in developing them into attractive places to live and work for different generations. Applicants should design their projects by reflecting on their region’s demographic and socioeconomic conditions, ensuring that local realities guide their proposed activities.
- The Programme invites applications that proactively engage with local and regional authorities and youth or other relevant organisations to transform challenges into opportunities through transnational cooperation, delivering solutions for the affected areas.
- The Programme seeks to enhance the region’s liveability by ensuring that the development of the areas concerned is guided by the needs and aspirations of their citizens.
Funding Information
- The total budget of a small project must not exceed EUR 500,000 (including preparatory costs).
- Duration: The duration of a small project consists of three phases: contracting phase that usually lasts three months, implementation phase that may last up to 24 months, and closure phase lasting three months.
Eligible Countries
- The Programme area covers nine countries. It comprises eight EU Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, parts of Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden) and one third country (parts of Norway).
Eligibility Criteria
- The partnership builds on the lead partner principle. Each project has to appoint a lead partner responsible for preparing and submitting the application. The lead partner bears legal responsibility for the whole partnership. The lead partner is also the link between the project partners and the Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of the Programme.
- Lead partners:
- Must be legally registered in a Member State or Norwegian territory covered by the Programme area. A legal entity located in Germany or Norway (in the sense of legal registration) but outside the Programme area can still become a lead partner if it follows specific obligations defined in the Programme Manual.
- Must fall into the legal status category “public” defined in the Programme Manual.
- The lead partner and all project partners should have a clearly defined role in the project’s implementation and corresponding budget. The applications can also include associated organisations that support the project implementation using their own resources.
- The partnership should be composed primarily of local and/or regional and/or national authorities, as well as NGOs. Other types of organisations may participate as project partners as well supporting the public authorities and NGOs in their project tasks. Their role, in particular, the role of education and research organisations, should be well justified and explained in the application. Taking into consideration the limited budget of a small project, its structure and duration small projects can be implemented by smaller partnerships. Organisations that have not previously participated in the Programme, are encouraged to take part as partners in small projects.
For more information, visit Interreg Baltic Sea Region.