Guidance Package Available for Fifth Call for Project Proposals
The Fifth Call for Project Proposals opens in 2025. Whether you’re familiar with or new to the Interreg Central Baltic Programme, here’s what you need to know. We have made detailed guidance materials available on our website to simplify the application process. We highly recommend that potential applicants review these resources to fully understand the criteria and enhance their chances of success.
Programme Manual – Key to a Successful Application
Before applying for funding from the Central Baltic Programme, it is essential to familiarise yourself with the programme intervention logic and the specific guidance for this call.
The updated Programme Manual 6.0 is crucial for both applicants and ongoing project partners. It reflects feedback from previous applicants and projects, providing clearer and more useful guidance. Refer to Annex III for a summary of the changes.
Guide to Build Your Application
Read the specific guide for your project type, whether a regular or small project. These guides explain the application process for funding from the Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027, detailing the steps from planning to submission. They also provide step-by-step instructions for completing the application form in the electronic monitoring system, Jems. Use these guides alongside the Programme Manual.
Upcoming Applicant Support Events
We highly recommend attending our series of applicant support events to learn more, assess if your idea aligns with the programme, find project partners, and build a strong application. Check our website for the upcoming events running from February to August 2025.
Go to Applicant Support Events
Project Idea Consultations
Consultations with the Joint Secretariat are also strongly advised. These consultations will help determine if your project idea fits the programme and provide valuable feedback. A project idea form template is available on our website to help structure your idea and assess its relevance. Completing this form will address key questions about the project partnership, planned activities, expected results, and the overall cross-border value of your proposed project.
Book a project idea consultation
Please note that we have two different guides available: one for regular projects and another for small projects.
ABOUT THE FIFTH CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS
Key Dates
The electronic system Jems is open for application preparation from 10 March 2025 for both regular and small projects, using a one-step application process.
The first possible submission date of the application form is 1 August 2025. Submission of application form in Jems closes on 30 September 2025 at noon (corresponding local time 12:00 in Finland, including Åland, Estonia, Latvia, and 11:00 in Sweden).
Key dates in a nutshell
Jems opens for preparation
10 March 2025
Submission of applications
1 August – 30 September
2025 (noon EET)
Focus Areas of the Fifth Call
All 7 Programme Objectives will be open for applications, however, some areas have specific focuses or restrictions to help achieve the programme’s goals. A focus highlights the programme’s preference for projects addressing particular areas of need (as shown in the image below). When funding is limited, priority will be given to high-scoring projects or those that align with these targeted focus areas.
The focus areas for the Programme Objectives are as follows:
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Both Programme Objective 1 (More exports by SMEs) and Programme Objective 2 (More new scaled-up growth companies) are open for applications, but the programme prioritises applications in Programme Objective 1.
IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE USE
Programme Objective 3 (Joint circular economy solutions), Programme Objective 4 (Improved coastal and marine environment), and Programme Objective 5 (Decreased CO2 emissions) are open for applications.
IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
In Programme Objective 6 (Improved employment opportunities on labour market) the programme prioritises applications dealing with result indicator PSR 6 “Number of people with increased competitiveness on labour market” as well as with less represented target groups like people with special needs and older people. All 3 types of result indicators (PSR 6 “Number of people with increased competitiveness on labour market”, PSR 7 “Number of organisations with applied anti-discriminatory policies”, and PSR 8 “Number of people with increased entrepreneurship”) and all target groups are open for applications.
IMPROVED PUBLIC SERVICES
Programme Objective 7 (Improved public services and solutions for the citizens) is only open for small project applications.
See all 7 Programme Objectives and their expected results here:
Programme objectives – Central Baltic.
A total of approximately €30 million ERDF will be reserved for funding in the Fifth call.
In a nutshell, the Fifth Call for Project Proposals in 2025 is as follows:
Final decisions
The Monitoring Committee will make final decisions on project approvals in January 2026. We look forward to seeing your project proposals and the positive impact they can have on the Central Baltic region.
