The ERDF funds are available for public authorities to fund Circular Systemic Solutions (or their specific elements) depending on the location of the applying city or regions, as the sub-instruments to be utilised depend on the location. Characteristics such as urban/rural, high prosperity/low prosperity, or localised in West/East Europe are indicators for what sub-instruments are available locally. Examples of sub-instruments to be used by cities and regions are: the European Urban Initiative; Interregional Innovation Investments; and Sustainable Urban Development sub-instruments. These are especially interesting to cities and regions localised in disadvantaged areas. The ERDF action is designed to reduce economic, environmental and social problems in urban areas with a special focus on sustainable urban development. At least 8 % of the ERDF resources are set aside for this field through territorial or local development strategies, i.e. Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) and Community-led Local Development (CLLD).
 

The list of ERDF-supported indicators specifically mentions a variety of outputs and results across European policy objectives to which a Circular Systemic Solution can contribute to (also including several indicators related to waste re-use and recycling).

The projects funded by the ERDF must hold to the principle of partnership, which means involving various regional stakeholders such as public authorities, civil society, economic and social partners. Further application criteria depend on the sub-instruments used for a project.

The projects funded by the ERDF must hold to the principle of partnership, which means involving various regional stakeholders such as public authorities, civil society, economic and social partners. Further application criteria depend on the sub-instruments used for a project. 

In 2021–2027, the ERDF will enable investments to make Europe and its regions:
 

• more competitive and smarter through innovation and support to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as digitisation and digital connectivity;
• greener, low-carbon and resilient;
• more connected by enhancing mobility
• more social, supporting effective and inclusive employment, education, skills, social inclusion and equal access to healthcare, as well as enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism;
• closer to citizens, supporting locally-led development and sustainable urban development across the EU.

These objectives highlight the key themes the programme focuses on.

Based on their prosperity, all regions and Member States will concentrate the support on a more competitive and smarter Europe (policy objective – PO 1), as well as greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe (PO2), through the mechanism known as 'thematic concentration.'

All regions and Member States will concentrate at least 30 % of their allocation to PO 2 and:
 

• more developed regions or Member States will dedicate at least 85 % of their allocation to PO1 and PO2;
• transition regions or Member States at least 40 % to PO1;
• less developed regions or Member States at least 25 % to PO1.

Furthermore, all regions and Member States will concentrate at least 8 % of their allocation to urban development.

The total budget for ERDF is € 313 million.

Applying for the programmes in ERDF is possible via specific national, regional, interregional or international authorities. The right authority for your project can be found on the following website.
 

There is no set deadline/deadline is on a needs basis.