BlueActionAA – Transition Agenda Call (BAAT-01)

The BlueActionAA Transition Agenda Call (BAAT-01) is an EU-funded initiative designed to support the development of strategic roadmaps, referred to as Transition Agendas, for the restoration of ocean and freshwater ecosystems in the Atlantic and Arctic basins. This call aims to empower communities to contribute to the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030." Eligible applicants include a diverse range of entities such as regional and local public authorities, NGOs, foundations, professional associations, SMEs, large enterprises, educational organizations, and research institutions, provided they are legally established in the EU Member States, certain Overseas Countries and Territories linked to those Member States, and Horizon Europe associated countries as of September 1, 2025. The call particularly encourages lead applicants from countries such as France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the UK, and Canada. The funding mechanism consists of lump sum grants, with a total budget of €1 million available for distribution across a minimum of ten selected projects. Individual project funding can reach up to €100,000, and no single organization can receive more than €75,000, including both consortium coordinators and other co-applicants. The application process is open and accepts both single applicants and consortia with a maximum of six partners. Projects must focus on developing strategic roadmaps that identify priorities and actions for achieving the specified mission objectives, which include protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, preventing and eliminating pollution, and promoting a sustainable blue economy. Applications are assessed through a five-stage evaluation process that examines eligibility, technical merit, and geographic coverage across the targeted regions. The call encourages collaboration and community-led actions that align with at least one of the mission objectives, such as biodiversity protection, pollution reduction, and transitioning to a carbon-neutral blue economy. The expected project duration ranges from six to eighteen months, and applications must be submitted via the ESF online platform. The deadline for submissions is May 29, 2026. Overall, the BlueActionAA aims to catalyze strategic planning and governance-level work to facilitate community engagement and foster sustainable practices in ocean and water resource management within the targeted geographical regions.

The BlueActionAA Transition Agenda Call (BAAT-01) focuses on developing Transition Agendas within the Atlantic and Arctic basins. A Transition Agenda is defined as a strategic roadmap or actionable multi-year plan supporting the Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030". It prioritizes specific actions, expected results, and implementation pathways, focusing on Mission objectives relevant to the targeted community.

BAAT-01 supports the development of transition agendas through grant aid and technical assistance. These agendas can take the form of strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, or regulatory innovation proposals. Strategic roadmaps guide Mission communities in achieving objectives and ensuring long-term impact by deploying or scaling up relevant solutions. Policy recommendations target governance levels (EU, regional, national, local) to develop or adapt legislation, policy, and management plans enabling Mission relevant solutions. Regulatory innovation proposals facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration and the use of emerging technologies and data assets relevant to Mission Objectives.

Submitted project proposals must demonstrably contribute to the following Mission Ocean and Waters specific objectives and targets:

1) Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030:

a) Protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as part of a true Trans-European Nature Network.

b) Strictly protect at least 10% of the EU’s sea area.

c) Restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.

d) Contribute to relevant upcoming marine nature restoration targets including degraded seabed habitats and coastal ecosystems.

2) Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil:

a) Contribute to relevant upcoming marine nature restoration targets including degraded seabed habitats and coastal ecosystems.

b) Reduce by at least 50% plastic litter at sea.

c) Reduce by at least 30% microplastics released into the environment.

d) Reduce by at least 50% nutrient losses, the use and risk of chemical pesticides.

3) Advance a sustainable blue economy that is carbon-neutral blue and circular economy, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the comprehensive vision outlined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy:

a) Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from maritime economic activities in the EU and sequester those emissions that cannot be avoided (net zero maritime emissions).

b) Develop zero-carbon and low-impact aquaculture, and promote circular, low carbon multi-purpose use of marine and water space.

Applicants are expected to address and contribute to at least one of these objectives and targets.

The submission process is supported by the following documents:

1. Online Application Form:completed via the ESF platform and divided in two sections: (1) Preliminary information (2) Proposal Submission: A PDF describing the Excellence, Impact, and Implementation of the application

2. Guidelines for Applicants:all the information needed before applying, including annexes with the Sub-Grant Agreement, technical guidelines for the platform, and Detailed payment schedule for successful applicants

3. FAQ section:available on the project website.

The evaluation process has 5 stages:

1. Eligibility check:An initial assessment to ensure the proposal meets the eligibility requirements for the call.

2. Technical Assessment:Expert external evaluators will review each proposal. Evaluators will score proposals based on 3 different evaluation criteria (Excellence, Impact and Implementation)

3. Technical Assessment Review panel:The evaluators will meet in a panel meeting to discuss the different proposals and establish a ranked list. The evaluators will then produce a consensus report for each application, summarising the panel discussions. Narrative comments (not scores) from the consensus reports will be communicated to the applicants at the time of the announcement of the results

4. BlueActionAA Panel:The ranked results of the Technical Assessment Review panel will be reviewed to ensure geographical coverage of the proposals across the Atlantic & Arctic basins.

5. Announcement of the results:All applicants will be informed about the evaluation process: non-eligible, under threshold, approved but not selected, selected. Each applicant will receive via email the decision and the following steps (if applicable).

BAAT-01 aims to distribute a total of €1,000,000 in lump sum grants. The grant is awarded to the consortium coordinator only. The expected project budget is up to €100,000, and the expected project duration is 6 to 18 months. A minimum of 10 projects will be selected.

Eligible beneficiaries must propose activities that demonstrably contribute to the Mission objectives.

To be eligible for funding, applicants (and co-applicants) must be legally established in one of the eligible countries, including:

The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU)

The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States

Horizon Europe associated countries at the time the BlueActionAA grant entered into force (01/09/2025)

Lead applicants (project coordinators) are particularly encouraged from the following Atlantic/Arctic Basin countries and territories: France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, UK and Canada.

Eligible entities include:

Regional and local public authorities;

NGOs, foundations (public and private), professional associations, civil society and citizen associations engaged in local development and nature conservation activities;

SMEs and Large Enterprises;

Cultural and Educational organisations;

Relevant EU Research Infrastructure, research organisations and academia.

Applications from individual entities or multi-partner consortia are eligible. Consortia of up to 6 partners may apply. BlueActionAA consortium partners, their affiliated entities, and their employees are not eligible.

Organizations can receive grant aid only once from BlueActionAA. The maximum grant amount awarded to any individual organization participating in a Transition Agenda project is €75,000. This rule applies to the consortium coordinator and co-applicants.

The application should be submitted in English.

The opening date is 30 January 2026. The deadline is 29 May 2026 at 14:00 (Brussels time). The topic is HORIZON-MISS - Community-led actions to restore our ocean, seas and waters. The project acronym is BlueActionAA, and the full name of the EU funded project is Empowering Community-Led Action in the Atlantic & Arctic. The grant agreement number is 101215504.

The BlueActionAA Transition Agenda Call (BAAT-01) is a funding opportunity aimed at fostering the development of strategic roadmaps and actionable plans, known as Transition Agendas, to support the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030" within the Atlantic and Arctic regions. The call seeks proposals that contribute to specific objectives, including protecting and restoring marine ecosystems, preventing pollution, and advancing a sustainable blue economy. The funding is available to a wide range of entities, including public authorities, NGOs, SMEs, research organizations, and educational institutions, located in eligible countries. Projects should focus on creating strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, or regulatory innovations that address the challenges facing the Atlantic and Arctic basins and contribute to the overall goals of the EU Mission. The call encourages collaboration and welcomes applications from both individual entities and consortia. The submission and evaluation process is clearly defined, with specific criteria for eligibility, technical assessment, and geographical coverage. The total funding available is €1,000,000, with individual projects eligible for up to €100,000 in lump sum grants.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are regional and local public authorities, NGOs, foundations (public and private), professional associations, civil society and citizen associations engaged in local development and nature conservation activities, SMEs, large enterprises, cultural and educational organizations, and relevant EU research infrastructure, research organizations, and academia.

Funding Type:The funding type is a lump sum grant.

Consortium Requirement:Both single applicants and consortia are eligible. Consortia can include up to 6 partners.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible countries include the Member States of the European Union (EU), the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States, and Horizon Europe associated countries at the time the BlueActionAA grant entered into force (01/09/2025). Lead applicants (project coordinators) are particularly encouraged from the following Atlantic/Arctic Basin countries and territories: France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, UK and Canada.

Target Sector:The target sector is related to the restoration of oceans and waters, focusing on marine and freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution reduction, and the sustainable blue economy. This includes areas such as environmental protection, climate action, and sustainable development.

Mentioned Countries:France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, UK, Canada. The regions of the Atlantic and Arctic basins are also mentioned.

Project Stage:The expected project stage involves the development of transition agendas, which can include strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, and regulatory innovation proposals. This suggests a focus on development, validation, and demonstration stages, with the aim of scaling up Mission relevant solutions.

Funding Amount:The expected project budget is up to €100,000. The maximum grant that can be awarded to any individual organization participating in a Transition Agenda project is €75,000. A total of €1,000,000 is available for the call.

Application Type:The application type is an open call. Submissions are made exclusively via the ESF online platform.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants. Technical assistance is also mentioned as a form of support.

Application Stages:The evaluation process has 5 stages: Eligibility check, Technical Assessment, Technical Assessment Review panel, BlueActionAA Panel, and Announcement of the results.

Success Rates:The document states that a minimum of 10 projects will be selected, but does not provide enough information to estimate the success rates.

Co-funding Requirement:The document does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The BlueActionAA Transition Agenda Call (BAAT-01) is an initiative designed to support the development of Transition Agendas within the Atlantic and Arctic basins. These agendas are strategic roadmaps aimed at achieving the objectives of the Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030." The call provides lump sum grants and technical assistance to projects that contribute to protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, preventing and eliminating pollution, and advancing a sustainable blue economy.

Eligible applicants include regional and local public authorities, NGOs, SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, and other relevant entities legally established in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories linked to the Member States, and Horizon Europe associated countries. Both single applicants and consortia of up to 6 partners can apply. The call encourages applications from the Atlantic/Arctic Basin countries and territories such as France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, UK and Canada.

The application process involves submitting an online application form via the ESF platform, along with a PDF proposal detailing the project's excellence, impact, and implementation. The evaluation process consists of five stages, including an eligibility check, technical assessment by expert evaluators, review by a technical assessment panel, assessment by the BlueActionAA Panel to ensure geographical coverage, and announcement of results.

The total funding available for this call is €1,000,000, with individual projects receiving up to €100,000. The maximum grant that can be awarded to any individual organization participating in a Transition Agenda project is €75,000. The expected project duration is between 6 and 18 months. The call aims to select a minimum of 10 projects. This opportunity is geared towards organizations and consortia that can develop and implement strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, and regulatory innovations to address critical challenges facing the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and waters.