On 1 October 2026, the Interreg Euro-MED 2021–2027 Programme will open its eighth call for proposals – Call Euro-MED08 – Thematic Test Projects. The call targets mature, implementation-ready projects that will test concrete solutions under real-life conditions and contribute to strengthening the resilience of territories across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Its guiding theme is “Advancing Territorial Resilience.”
The call has an indicative overall budget of approximately €20 million and is expected to support around 10 projects. The total budget of an individual project must not exceed €2 million, while project duration is limited to a maximum of 24 months, with no possibility of extension. Selected projects are expected to start on 1 June 2027 and end by 31 May 2029.
Call 08 covers three of the Programme’s four missions: Innovative Sustainable Economy, Natural Heritage, and Green Living Areas. The Sustainable Tourism Mission is not open under this call.
Under the Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission, proposals must address one of three specific topics: reducing air pollution in the construction sector, reducing water pollution in the agri-food sector, or reducing plastic pollution in water. Projects may test technological and non-technological innovations, sustainable business models, circular production processes, resource reuse solutions, and tools for monitoring and reducing pollution.
Within the Natural Heritage Mission, projects must focus on either ecosystem restoration or biodiversity resilience. Activities may include concrete restoration measures, transnational approaches, biodiversity monitoring, improved management of natural resources and measures to enhance ecological connectivity.
The Green Living Areas Mission focuses on two main topics: wellbeing and health in living areas and urban agriculture and resilient food systems. Projects may develop and test solutions related to green infrastructure, climate adaptation, public health, quality of the living environment, urban and peri-urban agriculture and citizen participation. For projects addressing wellbeing and health in living areas, the participation of partners with health-related competences is compulsory.
Call 08 is specifically designed for mature projects that can move rapidly from planning to practical implementation. The emphasis is on on-the-ground pilot activities, testing of concrete solutions, measurable results and the potential for successful approaches to be replicated or scaled up in other Mediterranean territories. Projects should not be predominantly research or planning initiatives.
Target groups include public authorities, sectoral agencies, infrastructure and public service providers, NGOs and other interest groups, higher education and research organisations, education and training centres, enterprises and SMEs.
Each partnership must include organisations based in at least five different countries within the Interreg Euro-MED Programme cooperation area. The Lead Partner must be a public body or a body governed by public law. There is no strict maximum number of partners; however, the Programme notes that a partnership of approximately 8–10 organisations can provide a manageable structure for effective coordination and implementation.
Partners must have direct competence in the field addressed by the project and sufficient operational capacity to implement the proposed pilot activities. Where pilot actions are carried out on land or in facilities that are not owned by the participating organisation, an agreement with the owner must be provided.
For Bulgarian project partners, the financing model provides 80% European funding, 15% national co-financing provided by the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, and a 5% contribution from the beneficiary.
The application process consists of two stages. The first stage is a written application submitted through the Jems electronic monitoring system. Pre-selected proposals will then be invited to an oral presentation as part of the final assessment process.
The written application phase opens on 1 October 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time and closes on 13 November 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time. Mandatory annexes must be submitted by 27 November 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time.
Organisations looking for transnational partners for Call 08 can use the official Interreg Euro-MED partner forums, which are organised according to the Programme’s missions.
Further information, the Terms of Reference and the complete application documentation for Call Euro-MED08 are available on the official Interreg Euro-MED website.
This news item has been created with the financial support of the Research, Innovation and Digitalization for Smart Transformation Program 2021-2027, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund under project BG16RFPR002-1.002-0001 -C01 “Accelerated digitalization for SMEs in the Central Region through the creation and development of EDIH.” The Regional Innovation Center “Ambitious Gabrovo” bears full responsibility for the content of the document and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official position of the European Union and the managing authority.
