Are you a legal entity or do you hold a residence permit?
This includes municipalities, farmers, NGOs, foundations, or registered companies. Informal groups or individuals without legal personality cannot apply.
Is your project located within the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE)?
The eligible area covers parts of the Netherlands (Limburg), Belgium (Wallonia, parts of Flanders), and Germany (parts of North Rhine-Westphalia). Projects outside this cross-border region are not eligible.
Zuid-Limburg (NL)
Beek, Beekdaelen, Brunssum, Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem, Heerlen, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Maastricht, Meerssen, Simpelveld, Sittard-Geleen, Stein, Vaals, Valkenburg aan de Geul, Voerendaal
Belgisch-Limburg (BE)
Alken, As, Beringen, Bilzen-Hoeselt, Bocholt, Bree, Diepenbeek, Dilsen-Stokkem, Genk, Gingelom, Halen, Hamont-Achel, Hasselt, Hechtel-Eksel, Heers, Herk-de-Stad, Herstappe, Heusden-Zolder, Houthalen-Helchteren, Kinrooi, Lanaken, Leopoldsburg, Lommel, Lummen, Maaseik, Maasmechelen, Nieuwerkerken, Oudsbergen, Peer, Pelt, Riemst, Sint-Truiden, Tessenderlo-Ham, Tongeren-Borgloon, Voeren, Wellen, Zonhoven, Zutendaal
Provincie Luik / Liège (BE)
Amay, Amel, Ans, Anthisnes, Aubel, Awans, Aywaille, Baelen, Bassenge, Berloz, Beyne-Heusay, Blegny, Braives, Burdinne, Burg-Reuland, Büllingen, Bütgenbach, Chaudfontaine, Clavier, Comblain-au-Pont, Crisnée, Dalhem, Dison, Donceel, Engis, Esneux, Eupen, Faimes, Ferrières, Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, Flémalle, Fléron, Geer, Grâce-Hollogne, Hamoir, Hannut, Herstal, Herve, Huy, Héron, Jalhay, Juprelle, Kelmis (La Calamine), Lierneux, Limbourg, Lincent, Liège, Lontzen, Malmedy, Marchin, Modave, Nandrin, Neupré, Olne, Oreye, Ouffet, Oupeye, Pepinster, Plombières, Raeren, Remicourt, Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, Saint-Nicolas, Seraing, Soumagne, Spa, Sprimont, Stavelot, Stoumont, Theux, Thimister-Clermont, Tinlot, Trois-Ponts, Trooz, Verlaine, Verviers, Villers-le-Bouillet, Visé, Waimes, Wanze, Waremme, Wasseiges, Welkenraedt
Duitstalige Gemeenschap / Ostbelgien (BE)
Amel, Burg-Reuland, Büllingen, Bütgenbach, Eupen, Kelmis, Lontzen, Raeren, Sankt Vith
Oost-België (BE)
Malmedy, Waimes
Regio Aachen (DE)
Aachen, Alsdorf, Baesweiler, Eschweiler, Herzogenrath, Monschau, Roetgen, Simmerath, Stolberg, Würselen
Kreis Düren (DE)
Aldenhoven, Düren, Heimbach, Hürtgenwald, Inden, Jülich, Kreuzau, Langerwehe, Linnich, Merzenich, Nideggen, Niederzier, Nörvenich, Titz, Vettweiß
Kreis Euskirchen (DE)
Bad Münstereifel, Blankenheim, Dahlem, Euskirchen, Hellenthal, Kall, Mechernich, Nettersheim, Schleiden, Weilerswist, Zülpich
Kreis Heinsberg (DE)
Erkelenz, Gangelt, Geilenkirchen, Heinsberg, Hückelhoven, Selfkant, Waldfeucht, Wassenberg, Wegberg, Übach-Palenberg
Can planning, permits, and implementation be completed within the programme timeline?
All activities, including obtaining permits, construction, and final reporting, must be completed by 30 June 2028. Projects requiring longer timelines are not eligible.
Can you cover 50% co-financing (min. 20% own/private, max. 30% non-EU)?
The voucher covers up to 50% of eligible costs. You must provide matching funds: at least 20% from own resources or private financing, and no more than 30% from other non-EU public sources.
Is this project exclusively funded by the SPONGE voucher (no other EU funding)?
The same project activities cannot receive funding from multiple EU programmes. If you are already receiving EU funding for this work, you cannot apply for a SPONGE voucher.
Have you previously received SPONGE vouchers?
Each organisation can receive a maximum of 2 vouchers during the programme period. If you have already been awarded 2 vouchers, you are not eligible to apply again.
SPONGE is focused on implementation. Does your budget reflect this?
Your budget must reflect actual implementation costs. External consultancy and advisory services are capped at 20% of the total budget to ensure that the majority of funding goes toward tangible sponge landscape measures.