Several EU consultations relevant to biodiversity research, innovation, monitoring and implementation are currently open for input. They cover the next generation of European Partnerships, corporate sustainability due diligence, and future ocean and water research and innovation priorities. Although the ocean and water calls are separate, they are closely linked: input to both will contribute to a combined European Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy, reflecting the need for a source-to-sea approach.
Biodiversa+ encourages partners, funded projects and relevant experts to review the opportunities below, and to contribute where their work can provide evidence or practical insights.
Open consultations and feedback opportunities
- Horizon Europe: European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings
The European Commission has opened a call for evidence on future European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe 2028-2034. While this consultation is not aimed directly at co-funded partnerships such as Biodiversa+, it is relevant to the wider discussion on the future European R&I partnership landscape. It raises questions about strategic alignment, openness, governance, cross-fertilisation between partnerships, links with future EU funding instruments and support across the innovation-to-investment journey. For biodiversity stakeholders, it may be an opportunity to underline the importance of partnership models that support long-term cooperation, monitoring capacity, knowledge mobilisation, science-policy interfaces and coordination across countries, disciplines and sectors.
Open for feedback until: 14 July 2026
Consultation page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16413-Horizon-Europe-European-Partnerships-to-be-implemented-as-joint-undertakings_en
- Corporate sustainability due diligence: development of guidelines
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the development of guidelines to support the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The Directive requires large companies in scope to identify and address adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their own operations, subsidiaries and chains of activities. For biodiversity, the practical question is how companies can identify, assess and address impacts and dependencies in ways that are evidence-based, usable and proportionate. This consultation may be relevant for stakeholders working on business and biodiversity, nature-related risks, value chains, environmental impacts, data use, and the application of sustainability due diligence.
Open for feedback until: 24 July 2026
Consultation page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14445-Corporate-sustainability-due-diligence-development-of-guidelines/public-consultation_en
- European Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy
The European Commission has opened a call for evidence on a future European Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy. The strategy is expected to support the European Ocean Pact and contribute to the implementation of ocean-related EU legislation, including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, the Common Fisheries Policy and the Nature Restoration Regulation. The call highlights the need to strengthen ocean science, research and innovation, improve understanding of the ocean system and the ecosystem goods and services it provides, support innovative solutions for the protection and restoration of ocean health, and reinforce ocean observation and monitoring systems. This is relevant for work on marine biodiversity, ocean observation, monitoring, restoration, marine knowledge systems, climate-biodiversity links, ecosystem services and the sustainable use of marine space.
Open for feedback until: 2 August 2026
Consultation page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16392-European-ocean-research-and-innovation-strategy_en
- Water Resilience Research and Innovation Strategy
A separate call for evidence is open on a future Water Resilience Research and Innovation Strategy. The strategy aims to help close knowledge gaps, set future R&I priorities, strengthen coordination and support the implementation of EU water legislation and related policies. It covers water resilience, integrated water management, freshwater ecosystem restoration and the need to restore and protect the water cycle. The call also highlights the role of nature-based solutions for groundwater recharge and flood and drought mitigation, as well as research and innovation tools for water-smart spatial planning. This may be relevant for experts working on freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, water monitoring, droughts and floods, pollution, climate adaptation, aquatic ecosystems and integrated water management.
Open for feedback until: 2 August 2026
Consultation page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16276-A-water-resilience-research-and-innovation-RI-strategy_en
