SPONGE - Together for a climate-resilient sponge landscape

The project at a glance

Key points

01/10/2025 - 30/09/2028

Duration
€6,492,350.36

Total budget

SPONGE is a project under the European Interreg Meuse-Rhine funding programme that strengthens cross-border cooperation in the field of water management and climate change adaptation in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

The aim of the project is to better prepare the region for heavy rainfall, flooding and periods of drought. To this end, SPONGE draws on the so-called “sponge” principle: landscapes should once again be able to absorb, store and slowly release more water. This reduces the risk of flooding and preserves water reserves.

Co-financing

The SPONGE project, entitled “Upstream-Downstream Solidarity and Partnership for Nature-based adaptation and Governance in Cross-Border River Basins”, is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg Meuse-Rhine programme.

Cooperation in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

SPONGE brings together partners from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The Euregio Meuse-Rhine is actively involved in the project through the Three Countries Park.

As a project partner, the Three Countries Park plays an important role in cross-border cooperation on landscape and spatial planning, and helps to coordinate and link up measures and strategies at Euregional level.

The project network also includes the Borderless Bocageland Landscape Park, WWF Nederland and several municipalities and regional authorities. Together, they are working on cross-border solutions that cover entire catchment areas.

A focus on natural solutions

SPONGE specifically relies on nature-based measures to increase the landscape’s capacity to absorb water. These measures help to slow down water runoff, store water better and use it sustainably. This includes:

Planting hedges, trees and meadows
Creating retention areas, hollows and ponds
Drawing up joint action plans in catchment areas
Supporting farmers, municipalities and landowners with implementation

Contribution to the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

With a total budget of around €6.5 million, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), SPONGE makes an important contribution to the climate-resilient development of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

The project shows how cross-border cooperation and nature-based solutions can together make the region more resilient, more sustainable and a more pleasant place to live in the long term.

SPONGE on Interreg (new window)

SPONGE on P3P (new window)

SPONGE website (new window)

Any questions on this topic?

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine Office will direct you to the right contact person.