Programmes supporting 'Climate, Environment & Maritime'

Enriched Impact Investor · Found: 2026-03-11 08:12

CINEA has been set-up to manage several EU programmes in the field of climate action and maritime.

Source: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes-supporting-climate-environment-maritime_en

Funding Details

Funder

CINEA – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

Funding Goal

CINEA manages a portfolio of EU funding programmes supporting climate action, environmental protection, and maritime/ocean governance, including grants, loans, and advisory support for a broad range of public and private beneficiaries across Europe and beyond.

Funding Amount

Varies by programme — from project grants (LIFE: typically €500K–€5M+) to large innovation investments (Innovation Fund: €10M+) and loans (JTM). LIFE Strategic Projects: over €103 million announced in March 2026.

How to Apply

Each sub-programme has its own call for proposals published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and respective CINEA programme pages. Applicants must register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, submit proposals according to call-specific templates, and meet programme-specific eligibility and evaluation criteria.

Target Region

European Union member states and associated countries; some programmes have international dimensions (EMFAF ocean governance)

Contact

CINEA Contact page: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3034908 | X: @cinea_EU

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:49

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a legal entity (NGO, public body, company, or research institute) registered in an EU Member State or programme-associated country

Project Scope

• Project must align with the specific priorities of the chosen sub-programme (LIFE, EMFAF, Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, or JTM)
• LIFE: projects must demonstrate environmental or climate added value beyond business-as-usual; strategic projects require national/regional scope
• EMFAF: activities must relate to sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, blue economy, or maritime policy within EU remit

Required Documents

• Register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and submit proposal under an open call for proposals
• Applications must follow programme-specific templates, budgeting rules, and co-financing requirements set per call

Constraints

• Each programme has its own distinct deadline per call — monitor the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for open calls
• Innovation Fund targets industrial-scale (>10 MW or >€7.5M) low-carbon innovation projects; not suited for small NGO projects

Summary

CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) is the European Commission executive agency responsible for implementing several major EU funding programmes in the fields of climate, environment, and maritime affairs. This page serves as an overview portal for the suite of programmes managed by CINEA, rather than a single specific funding call. The key programmes include LIFE (environment and climate action grants), EMFAF (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund), Horizon Europe – Climate, Innovation Fund (greenhouse gas reduction), Green Assist (advisory), and the Just Transition Mechanism Public Sector Loan Facility. The LIFE Programme is CINEA's primary instrument for environmental and climate action grants, supporting nature conservation, circular economy, pollution reduction, and climate mitigation/adaptation projects. EMFAF specifically addresses sustainable blue economy, fisheries, aquaculture, and ocean governance. Horizon Europe – Climate funds research and innovation to tackle the global climate crisis. The Innovation Fund supports industrial-scale low-carbon innovation. Eligibility and application processes vary significantly by programme. LIFE and EMFAF are typically open to public authorities, NGOs, research bodies, and private entities in EU Member States and certain associated countries. Applications are submitted via dedicated calls for proposals published on the CINEA and EU Funding & Tenders portals. Funding ranges from project grants to large-scale loans, with amounts varying from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of euros. This overview page does not itself constitute a single fundable call but acts as a navigation point to the individual programme pages, each with their own open calls, eligibility rules, and deadlines. Prospective applicants should consult the specific programme pages and the EU Funding & Tenders portal for active calls for proposals.

Historical Context

CINEA was established as an executive agency of the European Commission to manage programmes previously under other agencies (e.g., EASME). It manages the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework programmes including LIFE, EMFAF, Horizon Europe climate clusters, the Innovation Fund, CEF, and the Just Transition Mechanism. LIFE Strategic Projects announced over €103 million in March 2026.

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