priority 2: Water-smart Societies

Objective 2.1
Sustainable waters

The Programme supports actions that improve the state of water in the region and make its management more sustainable. These waters include the Baltic Sea, coastal waters and inland waters like rivers, lakes and groundwater.

What are sustainable waters?

The Programme supports actions that improve the state of water in the region and make its management more sustainable. These waters include the Baltic Sea, coastal waters and inland waters like rivers, lakes and groundwater.

Prevent & reduce water pollution

The Programme encourages actions that implement available solutions to prevent and reduce water pollution across various waterways. Actions may develop new solutions and apply them widely in the region. Actions may adapt water management practices to changing climate conditions in urban, rural and coastal areas, such as storms, floods or droughts. Actions may support adapting water management strategies to emerging challenges.

 

Shared water resources

Where possible, actions should be cross-sectoral as water resources and catchments are shared by multiple sectors and stakeholders. Relevant sectors include municipal and regional water management, agriculture, aquaculture, fishery, forestry, waste management, industry and households.

What can I do in my project?

We believe our projects help implement several important strategies in our region, and, in particular, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and its policy areas Nutri, Hazards, Bioeconomy, Secure, and Health.

N

Introduce good practices to prevent emissions

Engage authorities, companies, advisories and local communities to introduce good practices to prevent nutrient and hazardous substance emissions in water, incl. interaction across sectors, and test solutions to recycle nutrients or business models for ecosystem services.

N

Use water reasonably

Adapt water management practices across sectors to use water reasonably (e.g. reuse, retain, recirculate).

N

Reduce risks of water pollution

Improve water management practices across sectors to reduce risks of water pollution aggravated by climate change (e.g. coastal erosion).

N

Adapt water management

Adapt water management and other strategies to emerging pollutants or new solutions to eutrophication.

N

Address effects of climate change

Rethink planning processes for more effective water management (e.g. during storms, floods, droughts and groundwater scarcity), also developing greening plans, nature-based and digital solutions.

N

Shift behaviour

Pilot actions to shift consumer and production patterns to prevent water pollution e.g. reducing plastic use, handling pharmaceuticals.

Get inspired by the ongoing projects 

EMPEREST

Eliminating Micro-Pollutants from Effluents for REuse STrategies
The project EMPEREST tests advanced treatment technology that helps water utilities and companies better remove organic micropollutants such as PFAS or pharmaceuticals from wastewater.
Read more about the project

WaterMan

Promoting water reuse in the Baltic Sea Region through capacity building at local level
In the project WaterMan, public authorities and water companies model strategies to reuse water and recirculate retained water, e.g. for industry and agriculture.
Read more about the project

Lakes connect

Building networking hub for units interested in lakes protection in Baltic Sea tourist regions
The project Lakes connect establishes cooperation among authorities, NGOs and researchers in order to reduce the impact of tourism on water quality in lakes.
Read more about the project

TRUST ALUM

Building trust in target groups for ALUM treatment - an effective, yet misunderstood method for water quality improvement
The project TRUST ALUM helps public authorities in the Baltic countries make better use of ALUM water treatment and improve water quality in lakes.
Read more about the project
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Step 1 of 4

Four priorities & nine objectives

Four priorities for cooperation

Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027 creates opportunities for organisations to connect
as if there were no borders. With experience and EU funding, we help them cooperate and put their ideas into practice.

Jointly, we make the life of people around the Baltic Sea better.

The Programme is structured along with four priorities. They guide partners in achieving the most when cooperating across borders.

 
Priority 1

Innovative societies

1.1 Resilient economies and communities
1.2 Responsive public services

innovative-societies-resilient-economies-and-responsive-public-services
 
Priority 2

Water-smart societies

2.1 Sustainable waters
2.2 Blue economy

interreg-baltic-sea-region-sustainable-waters-blue-economy
Priority 3

Climate-neutral societies

3.1 Circular economy
3.2 Energy transition
3.3 Smart green mobility

interreg-baltic-sea-region-climate-neutral-societies-circular-economy-energy-transition-green-transport
 
Priority 4

Cooperation governance

4.1 Project platform
4.2 Macro-regional governance

interreg-baltic-sea-region-project-platforms-governance

Overview: all the Programme objectives

Resilient economies and communities

Objective 1.1
under Priority 1: Innovative societies

Sustainable waters

Objective 2.1
under Priority 2: Water-smart societies

Circular economy

Objective 3.1
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Project platforms

Objective 4.1
under Priority 4: Cooperation governance

Responsive public service

Objective 1.2
under Priority 1: Innovative societies

Blue economy

Objective 2.2
under Priority 2: Water-smart societies

Energy transition

Objective 3.2
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Macro-regional governance

Objective 4.2
under Priority 4: Cooperation governance

Smart green mobility

Objective 3.3
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Resilient economies and communities

Objective 1.1
under Priority 1: Innovative societies

Responsive public service

Objective 1.2
under Priority 1: Innovative societies

Sustainable waters

Objective 2.1
under Priority 2: Water-smart societies

Blue economy

Objective 2.2
under Priority 2: Water-smart societies

Climate-neutral societies

Objective 3.1
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Energy transition

Objective 3.2
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Smart green mobility

Objective 3.3
under Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies

Project platforms

Objective 4.1
under Priority 4: Cooperation governance

Macro-regional governance

Objective 4.2
under Priority 4: Cooperation governance

News

Pilot of the BalMarGrav product

The working group would like to invite for taking part in the pilot activity of the BalMarGrav project, which will last until 23 September 2024. The aim of...

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Cooperation wins: 21 projects selected for funding!

Cooperation wins: 21 projects selected for funding!

The Monitoring Committee meeting held on 13-14 November 2024 ended successfully with several important decisions on shaping the future of the Programme, with the highlights being the selection of 21 new projects for funding and paving the way for upcoming funding opportunities. ​

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