Funding Guideline Flood Risk Management and Water Framework Directive (FöRL HWRM/WRRL)

This funding guideline supports a variety of actors in implementing water management measures in North Rhine-Westphalia. The funding aims to achieve the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive and improve flood risk management. Both public and, under certain conditions, private applicants who are committed to the protection and development of our water bodies are considered.

The program supports a wide range of measures for water body development and flood protection. This includes strategic planning, concrete hydraulic engineering measures, and accompanying activities such as land provision, public relations, and educational measures. Specific cost categories are defined, while others are excluded from funding. The funded projects cover various development stages, from studies to the implementation of concrete infrastructure projects.

Funding is provided as a grant for project financing, with the amount of the grant covering a significant portion of the eligible expenses. The specific funding levels vary depending on the applicant and the type of measure. It is a co-financing scheme aimed at enabling the implementation of important water management projects.

Specific legal and technical requirements apply to the granting of subsidies to ensure that the funded measures comply with generally accepted technical standards and relevant guidelines. In addition, state aid regulations, particularly the De minimis Regulation, must be observed. The measures are subject to specific tie-up periods and require coordination with the granting authority in case of changes or disposals.

The application process begins with the coordination of draft measures with the competent District Government before the actual application submission. Applications must be submitted in writing, with specific deadlines for registration and prioritization applying to certain measures of the European Water Framework Directive. The entire process also includes the review and approval by the District Government, as well as the subsequent processing and proof of use.

This funding guideline is based on a circular decree from the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection and is subject to a multitude of other national and European regulations. It forms the formal basis for granting subsidies in the areas of flood risk management and the Water Framework Directive in North Rhine-Westphalia and ensures the transparency and legality of the funding mechanisms.