EXTENDED: Financial Support to Third Parties: SWIM Open Call for Associated Regions
OpenDescription
The selected beneficiaries will develop tailored replication roadmaps for the restoration, protection, and enhancement of freshwater and transitional ecosystems, with a particular focus on habitats of migratory fish species, ensuring the future replication of SWIM solutions. They will join the SWIM Community of Practice (CoP) and the SWIM Alliance, collaborating with other regions, partners, and stakeholders. Activities to be carried out may include: Improvement of habitat connectivity and quality for migratory fish species. Monitoring and rehabilitation of freshwater ecosystems and migratory fish habitats. Data collection (historical data sets, water quality assessments, species surveys). Actions to raise awareness about fish migration barriers and ecosystem degradation. Engagement of local communities, fisheries communities, and relevant stakeholders. Planning of future actions for habitat restoration and sediment management. Development of implementation plans on a larger scale, aligned with SWIM pilot activities. Identification of funding sources for future implementation actions. Contribution to SWIM Alliance activities and knowledge exchange.
Beneficiary & submission
Call for Proposals SWIM invites Associated Regions to join the project, contributing to the scalability and replication of its solutions in other regions. We aim to integrate at least six Associated Regions, spanning the four referential basins (Danube–Black Sea, Atlantic–Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic–North Sea). Associated Regions are envisioned as active institutional partners, exploring opportunities to apply and adapt the SWIM approach in their specific regional contexts, thereby contributing to the long-term improvement of river connectivity and protection of migratory fish habitats at a broader territorial scale. Eligible beneficiaries for this call are local and/or regional authorities from Member States and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. Countries that are part of the SWIM consortium cannot participate. The full eligibility criteria for this call are provided on the project’s website: https://swim-danube.eu/associated-regions/ Submission Proposals to the SWIM Open Call for Associated Regions must be submitted electronically via https://swim-danube.eu/associated-regions/. The Application Form and the Call for Proposals containing all relevant information about this Open Call are available on the project website: https://swim-danube.eu/associated-regions/. Deadline for Submitting Proposals: August 31st, 2026 at 17:00 (CET) Evaluation The detailed evaluation and ranking processes are explained on the website: https://swim-danube.eu/associated-regions/
Further information
The maximum amount of financial support per recipient is set at EUR 60,000 (regardless of whether the applicant is a single individual entity or a consortium). Once awarded, the support will be provided in two separate lump sums: First Payment: 60% of the contracted/agreed total lump-sum upon signature of the adhesion contract. Second / Final Payment: 40% of the contracted/agreed total lump-sum upon completion, delivery and validation of the due report on the activities performed. Please see additional details/information on the financial support on the website: https://swim-danube.eu/associated-regions/