€8.2 million in EU funding is available to support projects that capitalise on existing sustainable tourism solutions across the Mediterranean. The deadline for submitting proposals is 29 October 2026.
The Interreg NEXT MED Programme has officially launched its third and final call for proposals under the 2021–2027 programming period, making €8.2 million in EU funding available to support capitalisation projects on sustainable tourism across the Mediterranean. Implemented within the framework of the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism (MMM), a major coordination initiative involving 10 Interreg programmes, the call supports projects that transfer, adapt, test and scale up proven sustainable tourism solutions developed through previous Interreg cooperation projects.
Rather than creating entirely new solutions, project proposals must capitalise on existing outputs developed by projects funded under one of the 10 Interreg programmes participating in the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism. Each proposal must build on at least one output from another MMM programme, helping successful practices generate a wider impact across the Mediterranean.
Projects should address one of the following thematic areas:
• Innovative and smart tourism products
• Tourism and the green transition
• Social dimension of tourism (employment and upskilling) and inclusive and accessible tourism
• Shared and strategic governance of the tourism offer
Tourism is one of the Mediterranean’s greatest strengths and a key driver of economic growth, employment and regional development. The region welcomed more than 360 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, with this figure expected to reach 500 million by 2030. While tourism brings significant economic benefits, it also intensifies shared challenges such as climate change impacts, overtourism, seasonality, pressure on natural resources and communities, and uneven territorial development. These are common challenges that require common solutions, built on cooperation rather than competition across the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism (MMM), launched in 2022, provides a strategic framework for strengthening cooperation among Interreg programmes operating across the region. By promoting the transfer and reuse of successful project results, the initiative aims to maximise the long-term impact of previous Interreg investments and accelerate the uptake of innovative and sustainable tourism practices.
Application package now available
The complete application package is now available on the Programme website in this section. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult all the available documents before preparing their proposals.
The deadline for submitting project proposals is 29 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m. (CET).
The online application form, the only platorfm to submit a project proposal, will open from mid-September 2026. In the meantime, applicants can use the courtesy application form to draft their project proposals and prepare the required information in advance.
To be eligible, partnerships must comprise at least five organisations from at least three different participating countries, including at least one EU Mediterranean Country (EUMC) and one Mediterranean Partner Country (MPC). Projects may receive 92% in EU co-financing of their total eligible costs, with total project budget ranging between €1 and €1.3 million.
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Last Update
01/07/2026
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