The European Commission, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), is launching the new pilot scheme ‘EU Blue Champions‘ under the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters.

It will provide financial advisory services to up to 20 innovative blue economy projects with the goal to potentially qualify for EIB financing.

Projects must contribute to one or more of the Mission Ocean and Waters objectives:

1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030;
2. Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil; and
3. Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.

If you are interested, please find here more information on eligibility, as well as a template to express your interest.

You may submit your project by 31 January 2024 to corporatefinanceadvisory@eib.org.