EU Mission Ocean and Waters in motion: 15 actions get technical backing for blue transformation

Designed to accelerate progress toward the Mission overarching objectives, a total of 34 actions have been selected across the first and the second cycles.

A shipping corridor bridging the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. Data-driven monitoring of polluted waters in a bustling Italian gulf. A Latvian bay where a pioneering seagrass restoration effort is innovating the way we think of seabed revitalisation. These are just a few of the stories surfacing from Europe's coasts. Now, renewed commitment to the EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters', one of the five missions under Horizon Europe, is bringing another cycle of technical assistance to life. The Mission is picking up speed and scale, thanks to an astounding wave of action participation across Europe and beyond.

Designed to accelerate progress toward the Mission overarching objectives, a total of 34 actions have been selected across the first and the second cycles. During the first technical assistance cycle, support was provided to 19 selected actions : 14 targeting the Mission's first objective (conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity), 7 addressing the second (pollution prevention and elimination), and 12 advancing the third (a sustainable carbon-neutral and circular blue economy). In this second cycle, 15 actions from 14 countries have been selected for technical assistance across different sea basins. The beneficiaries are based in 12 EU Member States, along with Tunisia and Albania. The cycle launched in Autumn 2024 has confirmed a well-established and still rising demand for custom-fit support among coastal and waterway communities.

Water communities swinging in the same undertow

In this second cycle, the diversity of applicants reflects a broad geographic and sectoral reach: islands, port communities, and fisheries are all represented, with notable concentration in the Baltic & North Sea with 6, and the Mediterranean with 5. The other Mission Lighthouse basins also saw significant engagement: 3 flow-freely in the Danube River basin, and another 4are based in the Atlantic-Arctic basin.

The support secured through this new cycle is anything but a one-size-fits-all. Each selected initiative are receiving high-level, tailored expertise in their local language and across key areas, including regulatory, technical, economic, operational, environmental, and commercial dimensions. Whether navigating red tape, crunching feasibility numbers, or unlocking investment potential, this hands-on assistance is designed to fast-track implementation.

Top participating countries reach application ceiling

Certain countries stood out in terms of participation. Poland, Romania, Greece, Spain, and France each reached the maximum number of selected applicants allowed per cycle, joining Italy and Croatia, who hit the ceiling of maximum 3 actions per country during the first cycle. Across all regions, port-related projects dominated with a total number of 8 beneficiaries, followed by 6 more initiatives in fisheries, and 1 island-focused project.

The beneficiaries of this second cycle have joined the community behind the Mission by endorsing the Mission Charter, which inspires individuals and organisations to join efforts to achieve the three pivotal objectives of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters.

From seeking to enhance infrastructure, training, and educational links to fostering green and digital skills among the local workforce, all the Mission Charter actions call for joining efforts to reach the Mission objectives:

1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
2. Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters
3. Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular

Scaling impact with standout project

Building on the strong foundations laid in the first cycle, which was celebrated during the Mission Ocean and Waters Forum last March 2025, this new cycle shows growing maturity and ambition across Europe's water-connected communities.

A full overview of the projects here

Don't drift away: keep your eyes sharp for opportunities flowing your way!

Additional opportunities are announced on the EU Mission's funding page, potentially offering further support to scale up innovation and research their impact on the ground.

Dive into the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal for more information.