DANUBElifelines Call for Associated Regions

The DANUBElifelines Call for Associated Regions is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically focused on the restoration and protection of migratory fish habitats in the Danube River Basin, part of the broader mission to "Restore our Ocean and Waters." The call is open for applications from local and regional authorities located in EU Member States, EEA countries, and ENP-associated countries, while excluding entities from certain partner countries and those under EU restrictive measures.

Each selected Associated Region can receive funding up to €100,000, with a total budget of €500,000 allocated for this call. The application process is single-stage, with the submission window opening on August 31, 2025, and closing on December 30, 2025. Successful applicants are expected to implement projects that include habitat restoration measures, stakeholder engagement, and feasibility studies related to migratory fish and ecosystem health.

The selection process will evaluate proposals based on criteria such as relevance to project objectives, impact, feasibility, excellence, resource capacity, and integration with local networks. A minimum score of 15 points is required for funding consideration. The evaluation will take place within three months after the deadline, with contracting expected to be finalized by April 30, 2026, and project implementation starting by May 1, 2026.

The DANUBElifelines project aims to develop a comprehensive Action Plan for achieving effective restoration and management of freshwater ecosystems, integrating ecological, socio-economic, and policy dimensions. This grants opportunity encourages collaboration across regions not currently part of the main project to enhance restoration efforts, share knowledge, and develop sustainable practices for protecting migratory fish populations.

Participating regions will have access to a wealth of resources, including methodologies and tools developed by the project, fostering an integrated approach to ecological conservation. The overarching goal is to reverse the decline of migratory fish species and promote healthier freshwater ecosystems across the Danube River Basin and Europe.

The DANUBElifelines (DLL) Call for Associated Regions is a funding opportunity within the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the topic HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01-02, which focuses on the Danube river basin lighthouse for the protection and restoration of migratory fish habitats. The full name of the EU funded project is Safeguarding Migratory Fish and their Habitats in the Danube River Basin and beyond. The grant agreement number is 101213836.

The opening date for submissions is September 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is December 31, 2025, at 23:59 (Brussels time). The deadline model is single-stage. The expected duration of participation is 3 years. A total funding of 500,000.00 EUR is available. The project acronym is DANUBElifelines (DLL).

Each selected Associated Region can receive up to 100,000 EUR in funding. Only actual costs incurred during the implementation of supported activities can be reimbursed. Applications should be submitted using the official application form (Annex 1) and uploaded via the provided link.

The evaluation and selection process will occur within 3 months after the submission deadline. Contracting is expected to be completed by April 30, 2026, and the start of project implementation is expected by May 1, 2026. The duration of project implementation is aligned with the DLL project timeline, lasting until April 30, 2029.

An evaluation panel composed of the DLL Steering Group and Advisory Board members will assess eligible proposals based on the following criteria: Relevance of the proposal for the DLL objectives, Impact on migratory fish and local ecosystems, Excellence and alignment with DLL principles, Feasibility and realism of proposed actions, Resources and capacity to implement the proposed activities, and Local network and stakeholder integration. Proposals will be scored from 0 to 5 in each category, and a minimum threshold of 15 is required for funding.

Eligible applicants include local and/or regional authorities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and ENP-associated countries to Horizon Europe. Entities located in DLL partner countries (Austria (AT), The Netherlands (NL), Hungary (HU), Germany (DE), Serbia (RS), United Kingdom (UK), Romania (RO), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SI), Spain (ES), Bulgaria (BG)) or under EU restrictive measures are not eligible. Applicants must be a local or regional authority, be eligible for Horizon Europe participation, have a good command of English, and comply with standard EC Grant Agreement requirements (i.e., Articles 12 (conflict of interest), 13 (confidentiality and security), 14 (ethics), 17.2 (visibility), 18 (specific rules for carrying out action), 19 (information), and 20 (record-keeping)). More details on the EC Grant Agreement requirements can be found at the provided link.

DANUBElifelines (DLL) is a Horizon Europe lighthouse project aiming to safeguard and restore migratory fish populations and their habitats across the Danube River Basin. DLL will develop an Action Plan referred to as the "Blueprint for Migratory Fish Recovery" that integrates ecological, socio-economic, and policy dimensions into an evidence-based restoration strategy. DLL aims to catalyze transformation through innovative restoration strategies, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. The project combines on-the-ground demonstration at eight demonstration sites with upscaling to 5 Associated Regions. DLL actions include: Mapping and prioritizing transnational ecological corridors, Restoration and reconnection of critical habitats, Removal of migration barriers and dam removal feasibility studies, In-depth engagement with stakeholders and business actors, Development of business models, and Creation of tools like the Fish Migration and Connectivity Atlas.

DLL fosters an integrated approach bridging science, policy, economy, and local action to reverse the decline of migratory fish species and contribute to healthy, resilient freshwater ecosystems in the DRB and across Europe. By joining as an Associated Region, applicants will gain access to DLL’s knowledge and support to: Monitor fish populations and habitat conditions, Plan and implement habitat restoration for migratory fish, Design and assess restoration measures (including feasibility for dam removals), Engage stakeholders and integrate local knowledge, Develop sustainable business models, and Develop replication roadmaps aligned with the DLL Action Plan.

Supported activities include: Restoration measures for habitats of migratory fish, Monitoring and habitat assessment of migratory fish, Planning of restoration measures for migratory fish, Feasibility studies for restoration measures (including dam removal) for migratory fish, River connectivity, river-sea reconnection, River dynamics improvement, Dam removal, Business plan implementation, and Stakeholder involvement.

Further details can be found at the provided website. For inquiries, contact the DANUBElifelines Coordination Team via email.

In summary, this call invites local and regional authorities from eligible countries to become Associated Regions within the DANUBElifelines project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on restoring migratory fish habitats in the Danube River Basin. Successful applicants will receive up to 100,000 EUR to implement activities that align with the project's goals, such as habitat restoration, fish population monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. The project aims to create a "Blueprint for Migratory Fish Recovery" and promotes an integrated approach involving science, policy, and local action. The call seeks proposals that are relevant, impactful, excellent, feasible, and demonstrate strong local networks and resources. The overall objective is to reverse the decline of migratory fish species and contribute to healthier freshwater ecosystems in the Danube River Basin and beyond.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicants are local and/or regional authorities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and ENP-associated countries to Horizon Europe. Entities located in DLL partner countries (Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, United Kingdom, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Bulgaria) or under EU restrictive measures are not eligible. Applicants must be a local or regional authority, be eligible for Horizon Europe participation, have a good command of English, and comply with standard EC Grant Agreement requirements.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be geared towards single applicants, specifically local or regional authorities, rather than requiring a consortium. However, local network and stakeholder integration is one of the evaluation criteria.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, EEA countries, and ENP-associated countries to Horizon Europe. Entities located in the DLL partner countries (Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, United Kingdom, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Bulgaria) are explicitly excluded.

Target Sector: The target sector is environment, specifically focusing on the protection and restoration of migratory fish habitats in the Danube River Basin. It also touches on aspects of climate and innovation related to ecological restoration.

Mentioned Countries: Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, United Kingdom, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Bulgaria, EU Member States, EEA countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and upscaling, building upon existing research and demonstration sites. It involves planning, implementation, and feasibility studies for restoration measures.

Funding Amount: Each selected Associated Region can receive up to €100,000 in funding. The total funding available for this call is €500,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant, with reimbursement of actual costs incurred during the implementation of supported activities. They will also gain access to DLL's knowledge and support.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with evaluation and selection occurring within 3 months after the submission deadline.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided information. The number of Associated Regions to be selected is not explicitly stated, but the total funding available (€500,000) and the maximum funding per region (€100,000) suggest that up to 5 Associated Regions could be selected.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, the emphasis on reimbursing actual costs suggests that some level of financial commitment from the applicant might be expected or beneficial for project implementation.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for Associated Regions to join the DANUBElifelines (DLL) project, a Horizon Europe lighthouse project focused on safeguarding and restoring migratory fish populations and their habitats in the Danube River Basin. The call is open to local and regional authorities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and ENP-associated countries, excluding entities from the DLL partner countries. Selected regions will receive up to €100,000 in funding to support activities aligned with the DLL's objectives, such as restoration measures, habitat assessment, feasibility studies for dam removal, and stakeholder involvement. The application process is a single-stage submission, with proposals evaluated based on their relevance, impact, excellence, feasibility, resources, and local network integration. The DLL project aims to develop a "Blueprint for Migratory Fish Recovery" and catalyze transformation through innovative restoration strategies, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. By joining as an Associated Region, applicants will gain access to DLL's knowledge and support to monitor fish populations, plan and implement habitat restoration, design and assess restoration measures, engage stakeholders, develop sustainable business models, and develop replication roadmaps aligned with the DLL Action Plan. The deadline for applications is December 31, 2025. The project aims to bridge science, policy, economy, and local action to reverse the decline of migratory fish species and contribute to healthy, resilient freshwater ecosystems in the Danube River Basin and across Europe.