Strategic Integrated Projects — Environment (two-stage)

Objective

Support the full implementation of named national, regional or sub-national plans and strategies in five environmental priority areas:

• Circular Economy — National or regional Circular Economy Action Plans, strategies or roadmaps that are officially approved, with specific measurable actions or targets and a clear timeline, in line with the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and (where relevant) the Bioeconomy Strategy
• Waste — National and regional Waste Management Plans (Article 28 of the Waste Framework Directive) and Waste Prevention Programmes (Article 29)
• Water — River basin management plans (Annex VII to the Water Framework Directive), Flood Risk Management Plans (Floods Directive), Marine Strategies (Marine Strategy Framework Directive), Drought Management Plans (Article 13(5) WFD)
• Air — Air quality plans (Ambient Air Quality Directive), National Air Pollution Control Programmes (NEC Directive)
• Noise — Noise action plans (Environmental Noise Directive)

Scope

SIPs do not need to deliver every action in the targeted plan within the project lifetime. They must include strategic actions that catalyse a process and mobilise supplementary commitments and funding leading to full implementation.

What this means for cities and regions

The flagship vehicle for cities and regions implementing major environmental plans across waste, water (including flood-risk management), air quality, noise, and circular economy. The €58M topic budget funds 3–4 projects of €10–30 million each over 5–10 years. The responsible authority — typically a regional environmental agency, river-basin authority, or city/region with statutory responsibility for the plan — must lead the consortium. Co-financing 60%.