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  1. An institution, body, office or agency established by or based on the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

    All education and training facilities for people of different age groups.

    An intergovernmental organization having legal personality under public international law or a specialized agency established by such an international organization. An international organization, the majority of whose members are Member States or Associated Countries and whose main objective is to promote scientific and technological cooperation in Europe, is an International Organization of European Interest.

    An NPO is an institution or organization which, by virtue of its legal form, is not profit-oriented or which is required by law not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual members. An NGO is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that does not represent business interests. Pursues a common purpose for the benefit of society.

    A partnership, corporation, person, or agency that is for-profit and not operated by the government.

    Any government or other public administration, including public advisory bodies, at the national, regional or local level.

    A research institution is a legal entity established as a non-profit organization whose main objective is to conduct research or technological development. A college/university is a legal entity recognized by its national education system as a university or college or secondary school. It may be a public or private institution.

    A microenterprise, a small or medium-sized enterprise (business) as defined in EU Recommendation 2003/361. To qualify as an SME for EU funding, an enterprise must meet certain conditions, including (a) fewer than 250 employees and (b) an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. These ceilings apply only to the figures for individual companies.

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  1. Administration & Governance, Institutional Capacity & Cooperation 

    This topic focuses on strengthening governance, fostering institutional capacity, and enhancing cross-border cooperation. It includes promoting multilevel, transnational, and cross-border governance by designing and testing effective structures and mechanisms, as well as encouraging collaboration between public institutions on various themes. 

    Innovation capacity and awareness are also key, with actions aimed at increasing the ability of individuals and organizations to adopt and apply innovative practices. This involves empowering innovation networks and stimulating innovation across different sectors. 

    Institutional cooperation and network-building play a crucial role, supporting long-term partnerships to improve administrative processes, share regional knowledge, and promote intercultural understanding. This also includes cooperation between universities, healthcare facilities, schools, sports organizations, and efforts in management and capacity building. 

    This topic focuses on strengthening the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sectors while ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection. It covers agricultural products (e.g., fruits, meat, olives), organic farming, horticulture, and innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture. It also addresses forest management, wood products, and the promotion of biodiversity and climate resilience in forestry practices.

    In the food sector, the focus lies on developing sustainable and resilient food chains, promoting organic food production, enhancing seafood products, and ensuring food security and safety. Projects also target the development of the agro-food industry, including innovative methods for production, processing, and distribution.

    Fisheries and animal management are essential aspects, with an emphasis on sustainable fishery practices, aquaculture, and animal health and welfare. This also includes efforts to promote responsible fishing, marine conservation, and the development of efficient resource management systems.

    Soil and air quality initiatives play a crucial role in environmental protection and public health. This includes projects aimed at combating soil and air pollution, implementing pollution management systems, and preventing soil erosion. Additionally, innovative approaches to improving air quality—both outdoors and indoors—are supported, alongside advancing knowledge and best practices in soil and air management.

    This topic focuses on protecting the environment, promoting biodiversity, and addressing the challenges of climate change and resource management. It includes efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, develop low-carbon technologies, and reduce GHG emissions. Biodiversity promotion and natural protection are key aspects. 

    It also covers improving soil and air quality by reducing pollution, managing contamination, preventing soil erosion, and enhancing air quality both outdoors and indoors. Water management plays an essential role, including sustainable water distribution, monitoring systems, innovative wastewater treatment technologies, and water reuse policies. Additionally, it addresses the protection and development of waterways, lakes, and rivers, as well as sustainable wetland management. 

    This topic focuses on preserving, promoting, and enhancing cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable way. It includes efforts to increase the attractiveness of cultural and natural sites through preservation, valorisation, and the development of heritage objects, services, and products. Cultural heritage management, arts, and culture play a key role, including maritime heritage routes, access to cultural sites, and cultural services like festivals, concerts, and art workshops. 

    Tourism development is also central, with actions aimed at promoting natural assets, protecting and developing natural heritage, and increasing touristic appeal through the better use of cultural, natural, and historical heritage. It also covers the improvement of tourist services and products, the creation of ecotourism models, and the development of sustainable tourism strategies. 

    This topic focuses on the sustainable management, protection, and valorisation of natural resources and areas, such as habitats, geo parks, and protected zones. It also includes preserving and enhancing cultural and natural heritage, landscapes, and protecting marine environments. 

    Circular economy initiatives play a key role, with actions aimed at innovative waste management, ecological treatment techniques, and advanced recycling systems. Projects may focus on improving recycling technologies, organic waste recovery, and establishing repair and re-use networks. Additionally, pollution prevention and control efforts address ecological economy practices, marine litter reduction, and sustainable resource use. 

    This topic covers labour market development and employment, focusing on creating job opportunities, optimizing existing jobs, and addressing academic (un)employment and job mobility. It also includes attracting a skilled workforce and improving working conditions for various groups. 

    Strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and boosting entrepreneurship are key priorities. This includes enhancing SME capacities, supporting social entrepreneurship, and promoting innovative business models. Activities may focus on creating advisory systems for start-ups, spin-offs, and incubators, fostering business networks, and improving the competitiveness of SMEs through knowledge and technology transfer, digital transformation, and sustainable business practices. 

    This topic focuses on fostering community integration and strengthening a common identity by promoting social cohesion, positive relations, and the development of shared spaces and services. It supports initiatives that enhance intercultural understanding and cooperation between different societal groups. 

    Demographic change and migration address key societal challenges, such as an aging population, active aging, and silver economy strategies. It also includes adapting public services and infrastructure to demographic shifts, tackling social and spatial segregation, and addressing brain drain. Migration-related actions cover policy development, strategic planning, and the integration of migrants to create inclusive and resilient communities. 

    All projects where ICT has a significant role, including tailor-made ICT solutions in different fields, as well as digital innovation hubs, open data, Internet of Things; ICT access and connecting (remote) areas with digital infrastructure and services; services and applications for citizens (e-health, e-government, e-learning, e-inclusion, etc.); services and applications for companies (e-commerce, networking, digital transformation, etc.).

    This is about the mitigation and management of risks and disasters, and the anticipation and response capacity towards the actors regarding specific risks and management of natural disasters, for example, prevention of flood and drought hazards, forest fire, strong weather conditions, etc.. It is also about risk assessment and safety.

    This topic focuses on enhancing education, training, and opportunities for children, youth, and adults. It covers the expansion of educational access, reduction of barriers to education, and improvement of higher education and lifelong learning. It also includes vocational education, common learning programs, and initiatives supporting labour mobility and educational networks. Additionally, it addresses the promotion of media literacy, digital learning tools, and the development of innovative educational approaches to strengthen knowledge, skills, and societal participation. 

    This topic emphasizes the role of culture and media in education and social development. It supports initiatives that foster creativity, cultural awareness, and artistic expression among children and youth. Activities include promoting cross-border cooperation in the audiovisual sector, enhancing digital content creation skills, and boosting the distribution of educational and cultural media products. Furthermore, it encourages the development of media literacy initiatives, helping young audiences critically engage with digital and media content. By connecting education, creativity, and media, this topic strengthens cultural identity and supports inclusive, knowledge-based societies. 

    This topic covers actions aimed at improving energy efficiency and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. It includes energy management, energy-saving methods, and evaluating energy efficiency measures. Projects may focus on the energy rehabilitation and efficiency of buildings and public infrastructure, as well as promoting energy efficiency through cooperation among experienced firms, institutions, and local administrations. 

    In the field of renewable energy, this encompasses the development and expansion of wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal, and other sustainable energy sources. Activities include increasing renewable energy production, enhancing research capacities, and developing innovative technologies for energy storage and management. Projects may also address sustainable regional bioenergy policies, financial instruments for renewable energy investments, and the establishment of cooperative frameworks for advancing renewable energy initiatives. 

    This topic focuses on promoting equal rights and strengthening social inclusion, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups. It covers activities enhancing the capacity and participation of children, young people, women, elderly people, and socially excluded groups. Activities can address the creation of inclusive infrastructure, improving access and opportunities for people with disabilities, and fostering social cohesion through innovative care services. It also includes initiatives supporting victims of gender-based violence, promoting human rights, and developing policies and tools for social integration and equal participation in society. 

    This area focuses on improving health and social services, enhancing accessibility and efficiency for diverse groups such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. It includes the development of new healthcare models, innovative medical diagnostics and treatments (e.g., dementia, cancer, diabetes), and the management of hospitals and care facilities. Additionally, activities addressing rare diseases, promoting overall wellbeing, and fostering preventive health measures fall under this theme. It also covers sports promotion, encouraging physical activity as a means to improve public health and social inclusion. 

    This area focuses on strengthening justice, safety, and security through cross-border cooperation and institutional capacity-building. It includes initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of police, fire, and rescue services, enhancing civil protection systems, and rapid response capabilities for emergencies like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents. Activities also target the prevention and combatting of organized crime, drug-related crimes, and human trafficking, as well as ensuring secure and efficient border management. Furthermore, it covers initiatives promoting the protection of citizens, community safety, and the development of innovative security services and technologies. 

    This area focuses on the development and improvement of transport and mobility systems, covering all modes of transport, including urban mobility and public transportation. Actions aiming at improving transport connections through traffic and transport planning, rehabilitation and modernisation of infrastructure, better connectivity, and enhanced accessibility. Projects promoting multimodal transport and logistics, optimising intermodal transport chains, offering sustainable and efficient logistics solutions, and developing multimodal mobility strategies. Also, initiatives establishing cooperation among logistic centres and providing access to clean, efficient, and multimodal transport corridors and hubs. 

    Activities focusing on the sustainable development and strategic planning of urban, regional, and rural areas. This includes urban development such as city planning, urban renewal, and strengthening urban-rural links through climate adaptation, sustainable mobility, water efficiency, participatory processes, smart cities, and the regeneration of public urban spaces. Regional planning and development cover the implementation of regional policies and programmes, sustainable land use management plans, integrated regional action plans, spatial planning, and the efficient management of marine protected areas. Rural and peripheral development addresses the challenges of remote and sparsely populated areas by fostering rural community development, enhancing rural economies, improving access to remote regions, and promoting tailored policies for rural sustainability and growth. 

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Call key data

European Urban Initiative - Innovative Actions - 4th Call

Funding Program

European Urban Initiative - Innovative Actions

Call number

EUI-IA-2023-04

deadlines

Opening
25.02.2026

Deadline
15.06.2026 14:00

Funding rate

80 %

Call budget

€ 60,000,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

max. € 2,000,000.00

Link to the call

www.urban-initiative.eu

Link to the submission

connect.urban-initiative.eu

Call content

short description

With a provisional budget of EUR 60 million ERDF, the fourth Call for Proposals of EUI - Innovative Actions is targeting city projects driving innovation at the local level. This upcoming call will introduce an updated framework of support for cities, building on and adapting the principles of our previous Innovative Action framework. This approach reflects our ongoing commitment to helping cities test locally innovative solutions and strengthen their capacity to address complex urban challenges. Applications are open to cities above 25 000 inhabitants. 

Call objectives

The Call will fund projects that are ready to implement, building on existing initiatives or strategies where relevant, and can deliver measurable results within the project timeframe.

Topic 1: Competitiveness, digitalisation, innovation and investment

Topic 2: Social inclusion and equality

Topic 3: Security, safety and preparedness

Topic 4: Affordable, sustainable, decent-quality and inclusive housing and buildings

Topic 5: Climate action, environment and clean energy

Topic 6: Mobility

Expected results

Topic 1: Competitiveness, digitalisation, innovation and investment: Cities are dynamic and competitive places where innovation and technological advances are driven by the proximity of stakeholders and their multidisciplinary interaction. They are magnets of talent, central for job creation and for access to research and technology infrastructures. In 2024, 45% of city residents aged 25-64 held a university degree, compared to 31% in towns/suburbs and 26% in rural areas. Cities housed 41% of the EU's workforce, with towns/suburbs at 34.5% and rural areas at 24.5%. The EU focuses its action on enhancing competitiveness by boosting innovation and the adoption and scaling up of strategic technologies, in line with initiatives like the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal. Cities can strengthen demand for clean and circular technologies produced in the EU. They play a pivotal role in driving economic development and facilitating strategic partnerships with industries. Investment in education and skills development, including digital and green skills as well as entrepreneurship education, are key to meeting labour market demands and addressing inequalities. Capitalising on research and innovation can aid cities in developing strategies for economic resilience. The tourism sector also contributes significantly to the EU economy accounting for 7.1% of the total gross value added, despite challenges posed by the management of tourism flows. The EU is supporting the transition to sustainable, resilient tourism models and services. Culture, creative industries and sport sectors enhance cities' attractiveness but also create jobs and boost competitiveness and well-being. Cities are central for culture-led development and experimentation, as well as for exploring models of social and economic innovation. EU policy on digitalisation bridges the digital divide to bolster productivity and competitiveness. It supports cities in identifying technological gaps, strategically procuring the appropriate technologies, identifying service priorities, developing the required skills, navigating EU regulatory frameworks, and enabling local authorities to adopt advanced technologies. Cities play a key role in accelerating progress towards the EU’s digital decade objectives and targets and making digital ecosystems and digital professions more accessible. E-government initiatives are pivotal for modernising public services of cities and boosting citizen engagement through developing interoperable digital services that are efficient and citizen-centric.

Topic 2: Social inclusion and equality: At the EU level in 2023, the employment rate and the at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion rate were almost identical for cities, towns and suburbs and rural areas. Income inequality remains prominent in cities, driven by polarised economic prospects and elevated living costs. EU policy on social inclusion and equality aims to create inclusive societies by addressing inequalities and ensuring accessibility to essential services for all individuals. An equality-mainstreaming approach allows cities to better comprehend complex inequalities, facilitating comprehensive policy development tailored to disadvantaged groups and marginalised communities. It is crucial for cities to address social disparities and structural inequalities, and ensure accessibility to services, in alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights and Union of Equality strategies. Collaboration among civil society groups and regional stakeholders is enhanced through EU policies to develop local action plans tailored to community needs, promoting inclusivity and cohesion. Enhancing community support systems and capacities of local authorities are vital for ensuring equal access to services and labour markets for women and other disadvantaged groups. Incorporating social inclusion and equality dimensions in sectoral policies at local level ensures that cities provide accessible and affordable services, while contributing to poverty reduction.

Topic 3: Security, safety and preparedness: Cities are playing a key role in ensuring the security and safety of public spaces and are in the frontline for EU’s resilience and preparedness action. Cities are key actors in preventing radicalisation and protecting communities from terrorism. Safety perceptions vary with city size: 75% of residents in cities with fewer than 250,000 inhabitants felt safe versus 67% in those with larger populations in 2023. Across the EU, there are also notable differences in the perception of crime by degree of urbanisation. EU actions on preparedness and security focus on achieving a well-prepared and resilient society with uniform security and safety levels, regardless of location or characteristics and circumstances of population. Public infrastructure design in cities can contribute to ensuring residents’ safety and sense of security in public places. The safety and security of public spaces are also essential for cities in promoting social cohesion, community engagement and democratic participation. Human-made security threats, like organised crime and terrorism, and other multiple crime challenges (e.g. drug-related issues, trafficking in human beings), impact cities and require local solutions. Such solutions should reduce vulnerability of people, especially young persons, to criminal or terrorist recruitment and to decrease and prevent the appeal of illegal activities and criminal infiltration. The Preparedness Union strategy encompasses investing in security, resilience and preparedness to prevent and mitigate the impact of recent and future shocks to the system. Smart city technologies could be useful in increasing urban resilience and preparedness. Cities should also find innovative and cost-effective ways to secure critical infrastructure and ensure civic preparedness, especially regarding technology misuse. Additionally, surrounding rural areas are crucial for community resilience, particularly concerning food security and food supply.

Topic 4: Affordable, sustainable, decent-quality and inclusive housing and buildings: Shortage of affordable housing is among the most urgent issues in cities, and urban housing is increasingly unaffordable for many people. In 2024, the housing cost overburden was highest in cities at 10%, compared to 8% in towns/suburbs and 6% in rural areas. Around 16% of EU population lives in overcrowded conditions, where low-income households are the most affected. Homelessness is rising, with estimates indicating 1 million homeless individuals in the EU. Housing is a shared responsibility spanning across the national, regional, and local levels, with cities uniquely positioned to address housing challenges due to their competences and direct community engagement. The EU has been supporting investment in the housing sector, in particular through Cohesion policy focusing on energy efficiency and social housing. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is also making a significant impact in the area of housing, with tangible benefits for residents of cities and urban areas. The European Affordable Housing Plan was adopted in 2025 and aims to tackle the drivers of the housing crisis through specific and coordinated actions like the European Strategy for Housing Construction and the European Anti-Poverty Strategy. The EU is also emphasising the importance architectural quality and the living environment to guide investments, aligned with the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus initiative that supports sustainable practices in the built environment through integrated urban strategies, incorporating innovative techniques and materials, to boost the regeneration and resilience of neighbourhoods while respecting cultural heritage and Europe’s local values and traditions. Besides residential buildings, modernising public and dismissed industrial buildings or areas need to be modernised, made more (energy) efficient and become more inclusive for the population.

Topic 5: Climate action, environment and clean energy: Cities contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions and face the adverse impacts of climate change. Extreme heat is particularly affecting cities and causing a heat island effect, where urban areas become significantly warmer than surrounding areas. In the EU, floods threaten approximately 10.6% of urban areas. The EU recognises the key role of local actors in implementing measures to enhance climate resilience. Cities’ proximity to households and businesses positions them as key partners in mitigating emissions and in adapting to climate change, and in achieving clean, affordable energy systems. Cities shape the energy transition through their decisions on spatial planning, permitting sustainable public procurement and investment. Cities are also facing a growing wildfire risk due to changes in the climate but also expanding wildland-urban interfaces, requiring enhanced preparedness and coordinated response measures. When developing its policies, the EU recognises decentralised energy systems as strategic assets like distributed renewable energy, energy efficiency and storage assets, local energy companies, smart grids and citizen-led energy communities, as well as the construction of district heating networks. In addition, challenges related to water resilience, notably through digitised systems and nature-based solutions are central for EU policy to tackle. Local authorities are also strategic actors to support the implementation of circular economy, waste management, re-use and recycling measures, air quality and noise legislation, as well as the protection and enhancement of urban nature and tree canopy cover. The EU also encourages cities to promote policies and measures to enhance water resilience in line with the water resilience strategy.

Topic 6: Mobility: Cities tend to provide better access to public transport than other areas, facilitating goods, people, knowledge flows, and boosting productivity. The dense concentration of people and activities makes it more efficient to provide public transport in cities, but this same concentration can lead to high levels of congestion. Despite improvements in air quality, pollution levels still surpass EU thresholds in several cities. EU policy on mobility prioritises the transition towards sustainable, safe, accessible, inclusive, affordable, resilient and smart urban mobility systems. Efforts focus on modernising, decarbonising, and electrifying urban and peri-urban (public) transport, promoting active mobility (cycling and walking) and shared mobility means and services. Emphasis is given to integrated planning, fostering multimodal connectivity, and to improving road safety and urban logistics, as well as to reducing congestion, and with that urban pollution and emissions to also achieve the objective of climate-neutral and smart cities. Addressing transport poverty, better integrating urban logistics into sustainable mobility planning, and enhancing the link between urban mobility and tourism are key areas for EU policy. At the centre of EU policy action are urban nodes, which are considered key elements of a well-functioning trans-European transport network (TEN-T). Cities concerned are requested to develop sustainable urban mobility plans for functional urban areas, collect data, deploy alternative fuel infrastructures, and create multimodal passenger hubs and freight terminals. Among key issues for EU policy also are to improve synergies between urban mobility, housing policy and spatial planning, to leverage the potential of transport innovation and digitalisation, including artificial intelligence, and to continue improving urban road safety.

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Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States

eligible entities

Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs)

Mandatory partnership

Yes

Project Partnership

The following authorities may apply for support to undertake the EUI-IA:

  • First category: Any urban authority of a Local Administrative Unit(s) defined according to the degree of urbanisation (DEGURBA) of Eurostat as a city, town or suburb (corresponding to DEGURBA code 1 or DEGURBA code 2 of Eurostat) comprising at least 25 000 inhabitants.
  • Second category: An association or grouping of urban authorities with legal status of organised agglomeration composed by Local Administrative Units, where the majority (at least 51%) of inhabitants lives in Local Administrative Units defined according to the degree of urbanisation (DEGURBA) of Eurostat as cities, towns or suburbs (corresponding to DEGURBA code 1 or DEGURBA code 2) and where the total combined population is at least 25 000 inhabitants.
  • Third category: An association or grouping of urban authorities without legal status of organised agglomerations where all the urban authorities involved (Main Urban Authority – MUA, and Associated Urban Authorities – AUA) are Local Administrative Units defined according to the degree of urbanisation (DEGURBA) of Eurostat as cities, towns or suburbs (corresponding to DEGURBA code 1 or DEGURBA code 2) and where the total combined population (MUA and AUA) is at least 25 000 inhabitants.

The definition of Local Administrative Units as well the classification according to the degree of urbanisation and the figures on the number of inhabitants are based on information provided in the EUI-IA Correspondence table (https://www.urban-initiative.eu/sites/default/files/2026-01/EUI-IA_Call_4_Correspondence_table.xlsx). This table will be used as the main reference document for the Eligibility Check. Applicants are invited to refer to the Correspondence table to verify their eligibility and provide information on the Local Administrative Units included in their administrative borders and the figures concerning the number of inhabitants.

Within the EUI-IA, the Main Urban Authority is expected to be directly involved in the experimentation and to play a strategic leading role in the development of the EUI-IA project by establishing and chairing a strong Project Partnership to make it technically, scientifically, and financially viable.

Project Partnership involves:

  • Delivery Partners – key institutions and organisations able to contribute to the implementation of the project, having an active role in the implementation and funding of the project activities by providing financial contribution to the project (the share of the budget ensured by a Project Partner, i.e. co-financing rate);
  • (if applicable) Associated Urban Authority(ies).

other eligibility criteria

In addition to the principles outlined above for each specific category of eligible urban authorities, the following principles apply to all eligible urban authorities in the framework of the EUI-IA:

  • All urban authorities shall be located in an EU Member State.
  • Only eligible urban authorities as defined above may submit an Application Form in the framework of the EUI-IA Call for Proposals. An Application Form submitted by a Delivery Partner will be declared ineligible.
  • Urban authorities (as defined above) can be listed in a project proposal only as an MUA and/or an AUA. The category of Delivery Partners is reserved only to institutions and/or organisations that are not recognised as urban authorities in the framework of the EUI-IA.
  • Urban authorities (whether it is as an MUA or as an AUA) can be involved in only one project proposal in the framework of each Call for Proposals.
  • Urban authorities (whether it is as an MUA or as an AUA) already supported in an approved project by the EUI-IA in the framework of a previous Call for Proposals cannot submit a new Application Form.
  • Urban authorities must comply with the requirements on exclusion from access to funding (see section 8.6 “Exclusion criteria for grant applicants” below and in the EUI-IA Call 4 Guidance Chapter 3.3 “Exclusion criteria for grant applicants”)

Agencies and companies (e.g.: in the field of energy/waste management, economic development, touristic promotion, etc.) fully or partially owned by the municipality/city council are not considered as Local Administrative Units and therefore cannot be recognised as eligible urban authorities. Nevertheless, these organisations can be involved in the Partnership as Delivery Partners (more details on the roles and responsibilities of Delivery Partners are provided in the EUI-IA Call 4 Guidance Chapter 2.1.2 ”Typology of the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions Partners”).

Please note that, in the case of associations or grouping of urban authorities with legal status of organised agglomerations (second category of eligible authorities – see above for the details), the institution, including all the other urban authorities involved, is considered as a single urban authority in the framework of the EUI-IA and therefore the agglomeration shall be listed as the MUA. In the case of associations or groupings of urban authorities without legal status of an organised agglomeration (third category of eligible authorities – see above for the details), the urban authorities involved are requested to identify one municipality as the MUA and the other municipalities as AUAs.

Additional information

Topics

Administration & Governance, Institutional Capacity & Cooperation, 
Air Quality, Biodiversity & Environment, Climate & Climate Change, Water quality & management, 
Circular Economy, Natural Resources, 
Competitiveness of Enterprises, Employment/Labour Market, SME & entrepreneurship, 
Digitalisation, Digital Society, ICT, 
Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy , 
Equal Rights, Human Rights, People with Disabilities, Social Inclusion, 
Health, Social Services, Sports, 
Justice, Safety & Security, 
Mobility & Transport, 
Rural & Urban Development/Planning

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

24 months

Additional Information

The submission of the Application Form is 100% paperless through the EUI.Connect platform. It is strongly recommended that applicants fill in the Application Form in clear English, although it may also be submitted in any of the official EU languages.

Applicants are strongly invited to register and create their Application Form early in the application process. Going through the different sections of the Application Form and reading the information bubbles in each field (available in all EU languages) will help applicants to better structure and design their project proposals.

The application consists of:

  • Application Form: the Application Form must be filled in using the EUI.Connect platform. It is composed of sections presenting the project idea and the rationale (including information on the innovativeness of the proposal), the partnership (including the MUA, the Delivery Partners, and if relevant the AUA), the intervention logic, the proposed Work Plan and budget. Editing and submission is only possible during an open Call for Proposals. The application includes several automatic links, formulas and checks. These features mean that error messages appear in the form if it is not properly filled in (including a missing Confirmation Sheet), and it cannot be submitted. This helps to significantly reduce the risk of submitting ineligible applications.
  • Confirmation Sheet: the Confirmation Sheet is automatically generated by the EUI.Connect platform. It is accessible at any time during the application process and must be signed by a legal representative of the MUA and uploaded in the Application Form Part H “Confirmation”. The Application Form cannot be submitted without the Confirmation Sheet.
  • Annex: applicants can upload one annex in the EUI.Connect platform that will be attached to the Application Form. This could be a map presenting the area of intervention, a graph, an infographic, etc. It is not recommended to include long text documents. The type and size of the file to be annexed are specified in the EUI.Connect Guidance. Please note that annex can only serve as a supporting document. It cannot be considered as an “extended Application Form” and information required for the Quality Assessment – as per the Application Form instructions and assessment criteria – must be included directly in the Application Form to be considered for the assessment.

The EUI-IA project lifespan consists of 4 phases (see EUI-IA Call 4 Guidance for details):

  • Project Preparation (covered by a lump sum) comprises all activities related to the drafting of the project application and ends with the approval of the project for funding by the EUI Authorities.
  • Project Initiation Phase (covered by a lump sum) lasts 3 months, and it starts after the project’s official approval. It is disconnected from the Implementation Phase, conducted before the official start of the project implementation and dedicated solely to the ex-ante audit, as well as for the initial project management arrangements to create the necessary conditions for a smooth and effective start and implementation of project activities.
  • Project Implementation Phase (covered by simplified costs options and real costs) lasts 24 months; it starts after the project’s successful completion of the Initiation Phase and lasts until the approved project implementation end date. All project implementation activities are to be carried out during this phase. It is essential to allocate/foresee a sufficient and reasonable period for the testing the innovative solution under real conditions, as well as for the proper evaluation of the project’s implementation towards the achievement of its objectives and expected results.
  • Administrative Closure Phase (covered by a lump sum) lasts 3 months and includes all administrative activities taking place after the Implementation Phase to formally close the project and obtain validation of the narrative and financial reporting documents. During this phase, the EUI-IA project representatives are also expected to remain available to participate in knowledge capitalisation and dissemination activities initiated by the Permanent Secretariat.

Call documents

Terms of Reference - EUI-IA- 4th CallTerms of Reference - EUI-IA- 4th Call(523kB)

Contact

European Urban Initiative (EUI) Permanent Secretariat
+33 (0)3 61 76 59 34
info@urban-initiative.eu
Website

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