Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027
Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 13:41
Cross-border cooperation programme for the Central Baltic area covering Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Aland Islands. Supports sustainable coastal development, marine environmental protection, blue economy innovation, and cross-border maritime cooperation.
Source: https://centralbaltic.eu/
Funding Details
- Funder
- Interreg Central Baltic Programme (European Regional Development Fund)
- Funding Goal
- Cross-border cooperation projects addressing joint circular economy solutions, improved coastal and marine environment, business development, CO2 reduction, and employment in the Central Baltic area (Estonia, Finland including Aland, Latvia, Sweden). Priority areas include reducing nutrient and hazardous substance loads to the Baltic Sea, developing circular product/service chains, and pilot actions with direct positive effects on the Baltic Sea.
- Funding Amount
- Total ERDF budget of 152 million EUR across all programme objectives; individual project budgets vary by call and project type (regular vs. small projects)
- Deadline
- Periodic, typically annual calls; Fifth Call closed in 2025, next call anticipated in 2026 (periodic)
- How to Apply
- Applications submitted via the Jems electronic monitoring system (jems.centralbaltic.eu). Applicants should first present their project idea, then submit a full Application Form during an open call window. Applicant support events and guidance materials are available on the programme website.
- Target Region
- Central Baltic area: Estonia, Finland (including Aland Islands), Latvia, Sweden
- Contact
- Johanna Puhtila (Circular Economy), Project Manager, johanna.puhtila@centralbaltic.eu, +358 4002 47023. Joint Secretariat contacts available via https://centralbaltic.eu/contacts/
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-15 14:21
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 is a cross-border territorial cooperation programme co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a total budget of 152 million EUR. It covers Estonia, Finland (including the Aland Islands), Latvia, and Sweden — 29 regions in total — and requires cross-border partnership from at least two participating countries. The programme pursues seven objectives spanning innovative business development, improved environment and resource use, employment, and public services. Two objectives are particularly relevant for environmental and marine projects: Objective 3 (Joint Circular Economy Solutions) and Objective 4 (Improved Coastal and Marine Environment). Objective 4 explicitly targets reduction of nutrient, hazardous substance, plastic, and toxin inflows to the Baltic Sea through both preventive and direct measures, supporting biodiversity enhancement. Eligible activities under environmental objectives include awareness raising, information collection and surveys, feasibility studies and analysis, joint pilot actions to reduce pollutant inflows, small-scale investments, training, and experience exchange. Under Objective 3, activities target the full life cycle of products and services to reduce waste, increase material reuse, and improve cross-border product chains — including plastic-related waste streams. Eligible applicants are public and non-profit organisations, authorities at national/regional/local level, and private companies relevant to the targeted product chains or pollution reduction objectives. All projects must have a demonstrable Central Baltic cross-border dimension. Projects must involve partners from at least two of the eligible countries. Applications are submitted via the Jems electronic monitoring system. Calls for proposals are announced periodically; the Fifth Call closed in 2025, and future calls are expected in 2026. The programme provides both regular project funding and a small projects track.
Historical Context
Programme running since 2021 under the 2021-2027 EU funding period. As of early 2026, five calls have been run, with 60 new projects approved in the Fifth Call. The programme has 152 million EUR in ERDF funding, 7 programme objectives, 4 countries, and 29 regions involved.
Why it was added
Cross-border programme for Central Baltic region with marine environmental and coastal development focus
Sources
- https://centralbaltic.eu/
- https://centralbaltic.eu/for-applicants/call-calendar/
- https://centralbaltic.eu/programme/programme-objectives/4-improved-coastal-and-marine-environment/
- https://centralbaltic.eu/programme/programme-objectives/3-joint-circular-economy-solutions/