Restoring Ocean and Waters on Islands

■ Measurable, quantifiable, verifiable, and ambitious progress towards one or more interlinked Mission objectives and targets (ecosystem & biodiversity restoration; zero pollution; carbon-neutral, circular blue economy) by 2030■ Increased involvement and readiness of islands to test, deploy and upscale systemic, innovative restoration solutions; strengthened synergies with local programmes and resources■ Greater number of islands taking concrete measures to protect/restore marine and freshwater ecosystems, eliminate pollution and transition to a carbon-neutral circular blue economy■ Enhanced resilience of island communities to extreme climate events and sea-level rise through implemented solutions■ Mobilisation and leveraging of public and private investment on islands for ecosystem protection, conservation and restoration■ Established living labs, citizen science initiatives and stakeholder engagement frameworks fostering ownership and societal acceptance■ Demonstrated replicability and transferability of solutions to additional islands and contexts, underpinned by barrier analysis and mitigation strategies■ Operational synergies with EU directives (WFD, MSFD), national Nature Restoration Plans, coastal/river contracts, ICZM and alignment with other R&I programmes, ensuring sustainability and upscaling of demonstrated solutions

■ Demonstration on at least six EU/Associated islands, two per basin lighthouse (Atlantic & Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic & North Sea)■ Strong, meaningful involvement of relevant regional/local public authorities as full consortium partners■ Solutions must address one or more Mission objectives: ecosystem & biodiversity restoration; zero pollution; carbon-neutral, circular blue economy■ Emphasize nature-based solutions, land-sea interactions and transboundary actions■ Target small, remote or resource-limited islands with vulnerability to climate events, isolation and external shocks; position them as living labs for piloting transitions■ Activities must be systemic, integrating ecological, socio-economic and circular transitions to deliver energy- and water-security, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience■ Assessment of economic, social and ecological impacts and societal acceptance■ Design, test and adapt innovative technical, nature-based and governance solutions; develop tailored funding mechanisms■ Engage citizens and stakeholders via living labs and citizen science; promote uptake and ownership■ Monitor and report effectiveness relative to Mission targets; align with EU directives and national programmes (WFD, MSFD, Nature Restoration Regulation)■ Leverage and pool other EU/national/regional funds (EMFAF, LIFE, ERDF, etc.) and private sector contributions; plan synergies via Cooperation Working Arrangements■ Build on, link to and complement existing projects (Horizon 2020/Europe, EMFAF, INTERREG, LIFE) and adjacent Mission topics (e.g. HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-02-01/02)■ Identify other suitable islands for replication; analyse barriers and mitigation strategies to ensure transferability beyond pilot sites