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Horizon Europe
1 phase
Strategic Analysis
This call seeks to fundamentally improve the sustainable governance of global commons by addressing systemic challenges, geopolitical tensions, and human rights impacts. A winning proposal will demonstrate a robust multi- and trans-disciplinary approach, deeply engaging diverse stakeholders and leveraging science diplomacy to develop actionable concepts and solutions for EU and global decision-makers.
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Review the effectiveness of existing legal instruments and accompany with research the implementation of new instruments.
Further enhance the impact of existing and evolving science-policy fora and their links to relevant conventions and agreements.
Perform a comprehensive mapping of actors’ motivations and values on societal, corporate and state level that covers different regions and coalitions of countries around the world.
Research how the current governance of global commons affects intergenerational justice and human rights, including gender equality and the impact on different social groups.
Enable civil society to access information, provide knowledge (including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities knowledge), and participate in the governance of global commons.
Conduct research aimed at enhancing citizen engagement and trust in governance processes and efforts, exploring motivations and drivers underlying stakeholder positions in multilateral fora.
Study the rights of appeal and redress in policies related to the global commons, including but not limited to the “rights of nature”.
Develop multi- and interdisciplinary concepts and solutions for governing the global commons sustainably, including through the use of science diplomacy as a soft power and by learning from best practices in different types of commons (e.g., Ocean, Antarctica, Outer Space).
Explore how imbalances in the governance of global commons may contribute to geopolitical tensions, including the outbreak of direct conflicts or proxy wars, as well as the erosion or violation of human rights.
Consider the wider implications of such governance gaps for international stability and the rules-based global order.
Address Area A: Climate governance. Projects should consider past and current global climate governance efforts, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and develop insights for strengthening climate governance, considering the current geopolitical context.
Address Area A: Climate governance. Give specific attention to analysing the drivers underlying the reproduction of diverging positions towards climate change among stakeholders and possible solutions.
Address Area A: Climate governance. Reinforce the role of science-policy interfaces such as the IPCC and other relevant science-based mechanisms, e.g., through enhanced citizen engagement to increase trust.
Address Area A: Climate governance. Inform and develop recommendations for EU and global science diplomacy action.
Address Area B: Biodiversity governance. Projects should consider past and current global biodiversity governance efforts, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, related Conferences of the Parties and their subsidiary bodies, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Address Area B: Biodiversity governance. Examine the integration of rights of appeal and redress in environmental decision-making processes, including legal mechanisms to address grievances and ensure accountability, particularly in the context of the “rights of nature” and other innovative approaches to environmental justice.
Address Area B: Biodiversity governance. Develop options for reinforcing the role of science-policy interfaces such as the IPBES, IPR and other relevant science-based mechanisms, including the Global Knowledge Support Service for Biodiversity and the Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centres, with the aim of informing and developing recommendations for EU and global science diplomacy action.
Address Area B: Biodiversity governance. Enhance access to environmental information for citizens and civil society organisations to empower biodiversity action.
Address Area B: Biodiversity governance. Mainstream gender equality and human rights considerations into biodiversity policy frameworks, in alignment with the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HCHR) on the development of human rights norms for biodiversity protection.
Address Area C: Governance of spaces beyond national jurisdiction. Projects should provide a cross-cutting assessment of how different types of spaces beyond national jurisdiction have been governed so far, notably the ocean, polar regions, outer space including the Moon, Low Earth Orbit, the use of the radio spectrum, and dark and quiet skies.
Address Area C: Governance of spaces beyond national jurisdiction. This may include a comparative review of the legal frameworks (e.g., Antarctic Treaty, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, High Seas Treaty, Outer Space Treaty, etc.).
Address Area C: Governance of spaces beyond national jurisdiction. Study in a holistic, multidisciplinary manner current and emerging pressures on these spaces, with specific emphasis on the role of non-state actors.
Address Area C: Governance of spaces beyond national jurisdiction. Develop approaches to governing these spaces sustainably despite geopolitical fragmentation, thereby informing EU science diplomacy action.
Research activities should meaningfully involve experts with practical experience in the relevant processes and bodies, including policymakers, diplomats, the business sector, academia, and civil society, including indigenous rights holders.
Engage with international partners.
Involve the EU’s outermost regions, particularly for area C.
Research should have a multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary systemic perspective, bringing together expertise across natural sciences and engineering as well as social sciences and humanities (including history, law, ethics, and other disciplines).
The selected projects should cooperate with each other to foster synergies and links between the different governance frameworks.
Proposals are encouraged to identify other relevant EU-funded projects and to explore potential collaboration opportunities with them.
EU institutions, Member States and decision-makers worldwide, relevant international organisations, civil society organisations and other societal actors have a better shared understanding of the systemic challenges and the underlying drivers and motivations that undermine managing global commons sustainably.
EU institutions, Member States and decision-makers worldwide, relevant international organisations, as well as academies of science, higher education institutions and research-performing organisations are better equipped with the tools needed to improve the science-policy interface in the area of foreign and security policies in general, and multilateral / national science advisory bodies in the field of foreign policy in particular with a recognition of the need to engage citizens in a more participatory and inclusive approach to research and policy-making.
Rules-based multilateralism is strengthened by the development of concepts, methods, processes, and information relevant for decision-making that foster the sustainable governance of global commons within the evolving geopolitical context, thereby informing also the EU’s science diplomacy actions.
Reinvigorating democratic governance by improving the independence, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and trustworthiness of institutions and policies based on rule of law, and through the expansion of active and inclusive citizens’ participation and engagement empowered by the safeguarding of fundamental rights.
Horizon Europe Strategic Plan
highThe Horizon Europe Strategic Plan (2021-2024) sets the strategic orientations for the first four years of the Horizon Europe programme, identifying key areas for research and innovation investment. It defines the programme's expected impacts, outlining how it will contribute to the EU's policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal, a Europe fit for the digital age, and an economy that works for people. It also establishes the main intervention areas and the overall approach to partnerships.
Evaluators expect proposals to clearly demonstrate how they align with the strategic orientations and expected impacts outlined in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan. This includes showing how the proposed research and innovation contributes to the EU's overarching policy priorities, addresses global challenges, and fosters European excellence and competitiveness. Proposals should articulate their contribution to the specific intervention areas and missions defined within the plan, ensuring relevance and strategic coherence with the programme's objectives.
Treaty on European Union
mediumThe Treaty on European Union (TEU) is one of the primary treaties of the European Union, establishing its fundamental principles, objectives, and institutional framework. It outlines the EU's values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, and sets out the Union's competences and decision-making procedures. It also defines the EU's common foreign and security policy.
Evaluators expect proposals to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental values and objectives enshrined in the TEU, particularly regarding the EU's commitment to peace, security, sustainable development, and the protection of human rights globally. Proposals should show how their activities align with the EU's broader strategic goals and contribute to strengthening the Union's role on the international stage, especially in areas related to global governance and common challenges.
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that clearly articulate a comprehensive understanding of the complex governance gaps and geopolitical drivers affecting global commons. Strong emphasis will be placed on the project's capacity to deliver concrete, evidence-based tools and recommendations that strengthen rules-based multilateralism, enhance science-policy interfaces, and foster inclusive citizen participation. The proposal must clearly indicate which thematic area(s) (Climate, Biodiversity, or Spaces beyond national jurisdiction) it addresses, and ideally, demonstrate cross-cutting insights if tackling multiple. Meaningful involvement of experts from policy, diplomacy, business, academia, and civil society, including Indigenous Peoples, is crucial.
The AI has drafted potential core elements based on the call analysis. To start building your project proposal structure, select the elements that resonate with your consortium's concept. You can refine and rewrite them fully once your project workspace is created.
The current governance of global commons is hampered by a lack of shared understanding of systemic challenges, diverse and often conflicting motivations of state and non-state actors, and insufficient effectiveness of existing legal and policy instruments. This leads to unsustainable management practices and hinders collective action.
There is a persistent gap between scientific knowledge and policy implementation in global commons governance. Furthermore, limited access to information, insufficient opportunities for civil society and citizens (including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities) to participate, and a lack of trust in governance processes undermine the legitimacy and effectiveness of multilateral efforts.
Imbalances and deficiencies in the governance of global commons exacerbate geopolitical tensions, potentially leading to conflicts and the erosion or violation of human rights, including gender equality and impacts on vulnerable social groups. This threatens international stability and the rules-based global order.
Key decision-makers and policy formulators who will directly benefit from the project's insights, tools, and recommendations to improve EU and national foreign and security policies, particularly in multilateral fora.
Organisations such as the UN, IPCC, IPBES, and other relevant bodies that will use the project's research to enhance their effectiveness, strengthen science-policy interfaces, and foster sustainable governance globally.
Organisations and communities whose capacity to access information, provide knowledge, and participate in global commons governance will be enhanced, leading to more inclusive and legitimate decision-making.
Professionals involved in international negotiations and foreign policy who will be equipped with new concepts, methods, and information to navigate geopolitical complexities and advance sustainable governance through science diplomacy.
Academics and researchers across natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities who will benefit from enhanced knowledge, multi-disciplinary concepts, and improved science-policy interfaces, fostering further research and collaboration.
Companies and industries operating within or impacting global commons, who will gain a better understanding of governance frameworks, risks, and opportunities for sustainable practices.
This objective aims to conduct in-depth research into the effectiveness of existing legal instruments and the implementation of new ones (@SC1), map actors' motivations and values across different regions (@SC3), and analyze how current governance affects intergenerational justice, human rights, and gender equality (@SC4). It will also explore how governance imbalances contribute to geopolitical tensions and human rights violations (@SC9, @SC10), specifically within the context of climate governance (@SC11, @SC12), biodiversity governance (@SC15), or governance of spaces beyond national jurisdiction (@SC20, @SC21, @SC22). This will lead to a better shared understanding of systemic challenges and underlying drivers (@EO1).
This objective focuses on improving the participatory and evidence-based nature of global commons governance. It involves enhancing the impact of science-policy fora and their links to conventions (@SC2), enabling civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities to access information and participate (@SC5), and conducting research to enhance citizen engagement and trust (@SC6). It will also study rights of appeal and redress (@SC7, @SC16) and reinforce the role of science-policy interfaces like IPCC and IPBES (@SC13, @SC17, @SC18, @SC19). This will equip decision-makers with tools to improve the science-policy interface and engage citizens more inclusively (@EO2).
This objective aims to generate practical solutions and policy recommendations. It includes developing multi- and interdisciplinary concepts and solutions, utilizing science diplomacy and learning from best practices across different types of commons (e.g., Ocean, Antarctica, Outer Space) (@SC8). The research will inform and develop recommendations for EU and global science diplomacy action (@SC14, @SC23), contributing to strengthening rules-based multilateralism and fostering sustainable governance within the evolving geopolitical context (@EO3).
The project will contribute to strengthening the international frameworks and mechanisms for the sustainable governance of global commons, leading to more effective and coordinated management of shared natural resources and spaces beyond national jurisdiction.
By researching the impact of governance on human rights, intergenerational justice, and gender equality, the project will inform the development and implementation of stronger human rights policies and reduce discrimination in global commons management, aligning with the safeguarding of fundamental rights.
The project will provide actionable insights and tools to reinforce global climate and biodiversity governance efforts, particularly by strengthening science-policy interfaces, leading to more effective adaptation and mitigation strategies and enhanced preservation of critical ecosystems.
By enabling civil society and citizens, including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, to access information, provide knowledge, and participate in governance, the project will foster greater trust, transparency, and legitimacy in multilateral fora and decision-making processes related to global commons.