The call invites local and regional authorities to collaborate with project partners to integrate knowledge and solutions into a Roadmap for restoring and protecting European natural lakes (ENL). These efforts will contribute to a pan-European Action Plan for lake remediation and protection.

Type of projects to be funded
Projects should focus on adopting and replicating solutions developed in demonstration sites, aiming to restore and protect ENL through nature-based solutions (NbS).

Sectors / domain
Environmental management, specifically targeting the restoration and protection of natural lake ecosystems.

Individual or consortium
Eligible applicants: Local and regional authorities, which can apply individually or in partnership with other entities.
Other entities, such as academia or businesses, may participate as subcontractors under the leadership of a local or regional authority.
A maximum of 60% of the grant can be allocated to subcontracting.
Specific eligibility requirements
Applicants must be local or regional authorities responsible for managing, regulating, or overseeing water resources, including lakes and lake catchments.
Eligible applicants must be from EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries, excluding Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Romania, and Spain.
Specific topics or challenges
Projects should address environmental challenges affecting natural lakes, such as:

Pollution
Decreasing biodiversity
Other environmental threats
Solutions should replicate successful approaches from demonstration sites.
Project duration
Start date: Between 1 October 2025 and 31 January 2026
Duration: 20 to 24 months
End date: No later than 30 September 2027
Budget, funding rates, and payment conditions
Funding rate: 100%
Budget limit: Up to €100,000 per project (minimum grant request: €60,000)
Total budget for this call: €300,000
Payments:
50% at the project start
50% upon completion of all milestones and deliverables