Frequently Asked Questions

EUROLakes Call for Associated Regions

General information

All the information about the call and official documents can be found at https://eurolakes.eu/fundingopencall/

Associated regions eligible for the call must be located in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, excluding those already part of the project consortium (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and UK).

The organization applying to the open call and receiving the financial support (as sole applicant or as leader of a consortium) must be local/regional authorities.

Local/regional authorities refer to entities governed by public law (public bodies) that are established specifically to address public needs in the general interest, rather than for commercial purposes. Such public bodies applying to the open call must be relevant to the topics covered by the EUROLakes project. Public bodies with responsibilities for lake management and protection (such as lake basin organisations and environmental/nature conservation authorities) are welcome to apply.

A transboundary lake qualifies if a substantial part of its area lies within the applying country’s eligible region and a substantial part of its catchment area is also within that country. If the lake is located in a different country than the applying region, it will not be considered eligible. If your region wishes to focus on a transboundary natural lake shared with another Member State, we recommend contacting us before submitting your application so we can confirm its eligibility.

Proposals can support existing natural lake restoration measures and strategies or focus on the development of new ones. EUROLakes will provide the selected associated regions with technical assistance for the development and implementation of ongoing and planned projects to restore natural lakes through nature-based solutions.

Eligibility of applicants

Applicants can apply as single entity or as a consortium of two or three entities. In case of a consortium, all applying beneficiaries should be local/regional authorities. The application must be submitted by one lead applicant.

Organizations that are not local/regional authorities cannot apply directly. However, the applying local/regional authority can subcontract limited parts of the work to other institutions (e.g. universities or NGOs). The topics of subcontracting can be e.g. monitoring, evaluating suitable restoration measures for the region for their action plan and contributing to developing a roadmap for upscaling measures in the region. The authority/authorities representing the Associated Region will receive the financial support. The invoices for any subcontracted tasks must be included in their Financial Report.

No. Only local and regional authorities can receive funding. Other organisations (e.g. universities, research centres, NGOs) can be subcontracted by the lead local or regional authority. National lake/basin management authorities or other national public authorities cannot be sub-contracted but can be included as an un-funded, advisory stakeholder.

This depends on your country’s rules. In some countries, national parks count as regional authority, in other countries they may be handled as a national authority and would then not be eligible. To be eligible, you need to find out how the legislation is for your country and if necessary, send us an official proof that the national park is defined as a local or regional authority.

No, each legal entity can submit only one project.

Financial rules & funding

Subcontracting costs can cover up to 30% of the total proposed budget. If subcontracting exceeds this percentage, it must be duly justified in the application with an explanation about why the tasks cannot be performed by the applicant directly and how they align with the project’s objectives and outcomes.

Subcontracting costs have to be calculated within the budget line “Subcontracting and other services”.

Contracts for goods, works or services that are part of the action tasks described in the project proposal.

Co-financing is not an obligation, but the beneficiaries may decide on using additional funds (own contribution or from another entity) to implement measures within the proposed project.

Co-financing is not an obligation, but the beneficiaries may decide on using additional funds (own contribution or from another entity) to implement measures within the proposed project.

Documentation & formal requirements

Yes, electronically signed applications are accepted.

Contracting & reporting

  • Progress report focusing on the progress and achievement of the implemented activities and their alignment with the project’s objectives.
  • Financial report including a description on how resources have been effectively allocated to achieve the project goals.
  • Final report at the end of the project summarizing all activities and highlighting the long-term impacts.

Once the funds are awarded to the selected beneficiaries, a kick-off meeting will be organized to explain all requirements.