EU invests pound 126.9 million into 26 new projects to protect and restore health of ocean and water by 2030

BRUSSELS: European Commission announced today a pound 126.9 million investment in 26 new projects contributing to the EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters'. The projects gather 346 beneficiaries from 35 countries (26 Member States and 9 associated countries), including small and medium businesses, research institutions, local authorities, higher or secondary education establishments. Actions will take place from the Baltic and North Sea, through the Danube River and Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and across to the Atlantic. Through Horizon Europe calls, this Mission Ocean investment is supporting European communities dependent on healthy ocean and waters by helping them become resilient, climate-neutral and future-proof. The projects will deliver a wide variety of benefits to local communities: for example, better management of sediments in the Danube, protection and restoration of natural lake ecosystems as well as biodiversity in the Atlantic and the Arctic sea basins, or improvement of energy efficienc y of small-scale fishing fleets. Today's projects were selected following calls for proposals launched in 2023, including a peer evaluation by independent experts. Source: Emirates News Agency