[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

August 31, 2025 (Open) | December 31, 2025 (Deadline)

Up to €100,000 per region; total available €500,000; project duration up to 3 years.

Supports local and regional authorities in restoring migratory fish populations and habitats in the Danube River Basin through ecological and policy actions.

--- ## Description DANUBElifelines is a Horizon Europe lighthouse project focused on reversing the decline of migratory fish species and restoring their habitats across the Danube River Basin and beyond. The initiative is seeking Associated Regions—local or regional authorities—that will receive funding and technical support to implement restoration and monitoring activities, develop sustainable business models, and engage stakeholders. The project aims to map and prioritize ecological corridors, restore and reconnect habitats, assess dam removal feasibility, and develop tools such as the Fish Migration and Connectivity Atlas. Associated Regions will benefit from knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the opportunity to align their local actions with a broader, evidence-based European restoration strategy. --- ## Due Dates - Call opens: August 31, 2025 - Submission deadline: December 31, 2025, 23:59 (Brussels time) - Evaluation and selection: within 3 months after the deadline - Contracting completed: by April 30, 2026 - Project implementation start: by May 1, 2026 - Project duration: up to April 30, 2029 --- ## Funding Amount - Each Associated Region may receive up to €100,000 (reimbursed for actual costs incurred). - Total available budget: €500,000. - Project duration: up to 3 years, aligned with the main DLL project timeline. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be **local or regional authorities** from: - EU Member States - EEA countries - ENP-associated countries to Horizon Europe - **Not eligible:** Entities located in DLL partner countries (Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, United Kingdom, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Bulgaria) or under EU restrictive measures. - Additional requirements: - Eligible for Horizon Europe participation - Good command of English - Compliance with standard EC Grant Agreement requirements (conflict of interest, confidentiality, ethics, visibility, record-keeping, etc.) --- ## Application Process - Complete the official application form (Annex 1). - Upload via the provided [submission link](https://bokubox.boku.ac.at/#85384a49762c2371faabbbe2d12b3fde). - Proposals are evaluated by the DLL Steering Group and Advisory Board using the following criteria: - Relevance to DLL objectives - Impact on migratory fish and ecosystems - Excellence and alignment with DLL principles - Feasibility and realism - Resources and capacity - Local network and stakeholder integration - Minimum score threshold: 15 (out of 30; 0–5 per category). --- ## Additional Information - Supported activities include: - Restoration and monitoring of migratory fish habitats - Planning and feasibility studies (including dam removals) - River connectivity and dynamics improvement - Stakeholder engagement and business plan development - Up to 5 Associated Regions will be selected. - Further details and FAQ are available at the [DANUBElifelines Associated Regions page](https://danubelifelines.eu/associated-regions). --- ## External Links - [Call details and application portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/11641?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=2&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [DANUBElifelines Associated Regions information](https://danubelifelines.eu/associated-regions) - [Horizon Europe General Model Grant Agreement](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | More Info | |------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DANUBElifelines Coordination Team | [dll@danubelifelines.eu](mailto:dll@danubelifelines.eu) | | [Associated Regions page](https://danubelifelines.eu/associated-regions) | | European Commission (general inquiries) | | +32 2 299 11 11 | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) |

DANUBElifelines Call for Associated Regions

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