- Sector
- Public
- Level of governance
- EU
- Country
- EstoniaFinlandLatviaSweden
- Lighthouse
- Baltic and North Sea basin
- Funding mechanisms
- Grants
- Managing institutions
- European Regional Development Fund
- Mission Objectives
- 1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity2. Pollution prevention and elimination3. Carbon Neutral and Circular Blue Economy
Description of the funding initiative
The Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 is a EU cross-border cooperation programme. Its scope is to finance high quality projects with European Regional Development Funds in Finland (including Åland), Estonia, Latvia and Sweden, that aim at solving common challenges together and across borders. The programme budget for 2021-2027 is EUR 152 million.
There are four priorities for the Programme: innovative business development, improved environment and resource use, improved employment opportunities, and improved public services.
The improved environment and resource use priority has 3 objectives: joint circular economy solutions, improved coastal and marine environment, and decreased CO2 emissions.
Overview of eligibility requirements for applicants
The minimum requirement for projects is to have partners from at least two of the Member States. Therefore, in the case of involving partners from the Åland islands, there must be at least one partner from Estonia, Latvia or Sweden in the project. Projects between only Åland islands and mainland Finland are not possible. Eligible areas in Finland are: Etelä-Karjala, Helsinki-Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Varsinais-Suomi, Åland. For Latvia: Kurzeme, Pierīga, Rīga, Vidzeme, Zemgale. For Sweden: Gotlands Län, Gävleborgs Län, Stockholms Län, Södermanlands Län, Uppsala Län, Västmanlands Län, Örebro Län, Östergötlands Län. Partners can come also from EU Member States outside the programme area. In this case their role in the project should be explained particularly well.
The project lead partner bears the overall responsibility for the project towards the partnership and the Managing Authority. SMEs are only eligible for Programme Objective 4 Improved coastal and marine environment and Programme Objective 5 Decreased CO2 emissions. Private companies and organisations with their legal address outside the programme area are excluded from being lead partners.
Rules on co-financing
The total ERDF funding, the total project budget and the co-financing rate will be set in the Subsidy Contract. ERDF funding is up to 80%. Thus, the partners’ contribution is at least 20%.
Procedures to submit proposal
For the 2021-2027 period the Central Baltic programme is using Jems for receiving applications as well as for the monitoring of the implementation of approved projects.
In the first stage information and guidance on the thematic scope of the call and the programme requirements will be provided for the applicants. Possibilities for project idea consultations will be provided from announcing the call until the final two weeks before the deadline of application submission. Applications are to be filled in and submitted in Jems before the call deadline, which will be indicated separately for each call.
See guidance for application document: https://centralbaltic.eu/for-applicants/key-documents/#application-documents
Relevant websites
Contact points
