1. The new LIFE Programme 2014-2020
07/12/2018
The new LIFE Programme
Financing for Nature
Event date
Presenter Function

2. 07/12/2018
LIFE Structure
NGOs
07/12/2018

3. LIFE 2014-2020 - Legal Framework
07/12/2018
LIFE Legal Framework
The LIFE Regulation (EU Regulation 1293/2013 of 20/12/2013)
The LIFE Multiannual Work Programme (Commission Decision of 19/03/2014)
Indicative budget per priority area and types of funding
Selection relevant elements (project topics, procedure, criteria, indicators) for all projects and operating grants
Application and evaluation guidelines
Action/Operating grant agreements of beneficiaries with the Contracting Authority (including Common Provisions) or agreements of recipients with banks
Sub-programme ENV: 75% of total

4. 07/12/2018
LIFE Budget
Environment sub-programme €245.4 million for projects
Nature & Biodiversity including related governance and information € million (55% of sub-programme ENV minus financial instruments)
About € 175 million Euro for 'traditional' projects in the Environment subprogramme
IP Budget: €61.5 million (all for Environment sub-programme)
Operating grants to environmental and climate NGOs €9 million
Sub-programme ENV: 75% of total; Nature&Biodiversity: 55% of the 81% of sub-pörogramme environment minus financial instruments, i.e. minus 30 mio.
07/12/2018

5. Activities outside the EU
Can be eligible if:
Necessary to achieve Union environmental or climate objectives,
Necessary to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply, and
the coordinating beneficiary is established in the EU*.
*As for activities in the EU, in that case also an associated beneficiary not established in the EU can participate.
07/12/2018

6. Possible issues for art 6 projects
Cross-border river management
Transboundary air pollution
Management of spread of alien species
Conservation of migratory species or cross-border habitats
Activities necessary to improve techniques that will be implemented inside the EU

7. The LIFE Multiannual Work Programmes
07/12/2018
The LIFE Multiannual Work Programmes
Frameworks for four years ( ) and 3 years ( ) for implementing the LIFE Regulation:
budget,
project topics for "traditional" projects under the sub-programme environment,
selection methodology and criteria,
indicators,
timetable for calls
Article 24 Regulation 1293/2013
07/12/2018

8. LIFE Sub-programme for Environment
07/12/2018
LIFE Sub-programme for Environment
Three priority areas:
Environment and Resource Efficiency
Nature and Biodiversity
Environmental Governance and Information
Sub-programme ENV: 75% of total; Nature&Biodiversity: 55% of the 81% of sub-pörogramme environment minus financial instruments, i.e. minus 30 mio.
07/12/2018

9. LIFE NATURE & BIODIVERSITY
07/12/2018
LIFE NATURE & BIODIVERSITY
NATURE project: Contributes to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives (Council Directives 79/409 EEC and 92/43/EEC) – inside Natura 2000 network or contributing to its integrity
BIODIVERSITY project: Contributes to the implementation of the objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy to must address wild fauna/flora
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions COM(2011) 244 final of 3 May 2011 "Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020"
07/12/2018

10. LIFE NATURE & BIODIVERSITY (NAT)
07/12/2018
LIFE NATURE & BIODIVERSITY (NAT)
Must be best practice and/or demonstration projects and/or pilot
Must contain Concrete Conservation Actions (CCA) (at least 25% of the LIFE project's budget)
Proposals fitting the project topics will be given prioirty
07/12/2018

11. Climate Action Priority Areas
Climate Mitigation
Climate Adaptation
Governance and Information
Demonstration and pilot projects
Sub-programme ENV: 75% of total; Nature&Biodiversity: 55% of the 81% of sub-pörogramme environment minus financial instruments, i.e. minus 30 mio.

12. Which subprogramme? Environment Climate
Projects falling under one of the project topics
Climate mitigation or adaptation is a by-product but not the central objective
Clear link to the specific objectives for the three environmental priority areas
Climate
Climate mitigation or adaptation is the main goal
Clear link to the specific objectives for the three climate action priority areas

13. 07/12/2018
LIFE New Tools
Tools
Project types: Integrated, technical assistance, capacity building, preparatory projects
Funding types: Innovative financial instruments => Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF – biodiversity and climate action), Private Finance for Energy Efficiency (PF44EE – climate action)
Funding rates: max. until 2017: 60% of eligible costs for all except priority species/habitats (75%) and capacity building (100% of eligible costs)
07/12/2018

14. Tools: Integrated projects (IPs)
For whom?
Mainly public administrations or other entities active in the field of environment and climate protection, capable of coordinating, besides the IP, complementary actions co-funded by additional private, public (preferably EU) funds.
For what?
Implementing Union environmental and climate plans or strategies (LIFE MAWP for ); big scale; complementary actions with additional co-funding; significant involvement of stakeholders
Average size?
2 to 10 beneficiaries; EU contribution: €10 to €15 million; about 3 IPs per Member State.
Co-funding rate?
60%
07/12/2018

15. 07/12/2018
IPs – the concept
Illustration of a plan/strategy implemented by the IP and by complementary actions:
Action 1
Action 2 ….
Complementary actions/measures (co-) financed by non-LIFE funds (EU/national/private).
LIFE Integrated Project
LIFE co-financing: Beneficiaries contribution: 60% 40%
No other EU funds used!!
Sub-programme ENV: 75% of total; Nature&Biodiversity: 55% of the 81% of sub-pörogramme environment minus financial instruments, i.e. minus 30 mio.
07/12/2018

16. LIFE – IPs – the concept Implementation of a Plan or Strategy means:
07/12/2018
LIFE – IPs – the concept
Implementation of a Plan or Strategy means:
Ultimate goal: implementation of all elements/actions of the plan in question
There have to be longterm commitments to implement the entire plan in the given geographical area / cities by all relevant actors
Not all aspects have to be covered by the LIFE IP itself
In a large geographical area/ covering a significant number of cities
07/12/2018

17. LIFE – IPs – the concept Implementation of a Plan or Strategy means:
07/12/2018
LIFE – IPs – the concept
Implementation of a Plan or Strategy means:
IPs provide examples of good practice for efficient and well-coordinated implementation of Union environmental and climate policy in Member States and regions.
IPs help competent authorities to fulfil their legal obligations!
07/12/2018

18. IP versus "traditional" Implementation of a Plan:
07/12/2018
IP versus "traditional"
Implementation of a Plan:
The IP serves as a catalyser for the implementation of an EU Plan from A to Z in a given region/number of cities by providing an example of good practice for an efficient and well coordinated implementation.
The traditional project is not directly linked to a Plan or is simply limited to the implementation of only one or several aspects of a Plan.
07/12/2018

19. IP versus "traditional" (cont.)
07/12/2018
IP versus "traditional" (cont.)
IP: Emphasis on co-ordinating and ensuring the commitment of all relevant actors to implement the whole plan (to a great part outside the IP).
"Traditional": Emphasis on concrete conservation actions/demonstration/piloting.
Stand-alone projects, with optional links to a Plan/Strategy
07/12/2018

20. Mechanisms Submission (only for sub-programme for environment in 2014)
Off-line (Word and Excel files)
Two stage approach:
1st stage: Concept Note, environmental plan/strategy and finance plan
2nd stage: Full proposal including a letter of intent from at least one other funding source.
Implementation:
A cyclical reporting/planning mechanism (not everything planned in detail from the beginning)
More flexibility
Payments following periodic planning
Cascading grants (granting grants for ad hoc actions within the project)

21. 07/12/2018
Nature IPs
Objective
Implement a Prioritized Framework Programmes (PAF) for Natura (Article 8 Habitats Directive) and thereby contribute significantly towards achieving target 1 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy (Natura 2000) and the general objectives of the Habitats and Birds Directives
Necessary elements:
Large geographic scale covered by the IP
Link with other sources of funding or initiatives: Structural funds for large investments (restoration); private companies; households; visitors; NGO; local, regional and national funds
Long-term commitments of all relevant actors(also of the complementary project(s) ) to implement the whole PAF in the long term.
07/12/2018

22. Tools: Technical Assistance Project (TAs)
For whom?
For those who would like to submit an IP, but need assistance in finalising the application
For what?
Support in drafting the IP application; should be applied for a year before the intended IP
Average size?
Maximum 1% of the allocation for IP's => maximum €100,000
Co-funding rate?
60%
07/12/2018

23. Tools: Preparatory projects
07/12/2018
Tools: Preparatory projects
Topics:
1) Establishing an EU NGO platform on Best Available Techniques
2) Completing EU28/Pan-European Species Red Lists for species groups relevant the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC)
3) Development and update of species action plans for bird species listed in Annex I and Annex II of the EU Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC)
Paper application
07/12/2018

24. LIFE – Operating grants for NGOs
07/12/2018
LIFE – Operating grants for NGOs
Small, separate programme for 1-year operating grants (core funding) to co-finance the functioning of EU level environment and climate NGOs, i.e. non-profit making entities which
pursue an aim of general Union interest,
are primarily active in the field of environment or climate action,
are involved in the development, implementation and enforcement of Union policy and legislation.
07/12/2018

25. Projects financed by financial instruments (FIs)
For whom?
Mainly SMEs active in the field of environment and climate protection (NCFF), SME's, households, public administrations wishing to improve their energy efficiency (PF4EE).
What?
Credits/bank guarantees/ … for environment or climate projects (LIFE MAWP for )
Average size?
1 recipient; EU contribution: €5-€10 mio. (NCFF)
07/12/2018

26. The Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF)
07/12/2018
The Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF)
Why?
Financing gap for biodiversity and adaptation; emerging market opportunities for investments in natural capital
Need to address barriers such as perceived high risks, lack of track record, long pay-back periods
Objectives
Encourage investments in revenue-generating or cost-saving projects promoting the conservation of natural capital to meet biodiversity/adaptation objectives and support green growth;
demonstrate to private investors the attractiveness of natural capital projects; build project pipeline
07/12/2018

27. NCFF – The setting Pilot phase (2014-2017) for testing approaches
07/12/2018
NCFF – The setting
Pilot phase ( ) for testing approaches
Investment facility (debt and equity, direct and indirect) and Support facility (building pipeline, project development)
Actors: European Commission; EIB (matching amounts for investments; manager of facility);
Size for pilot phase: €100M for investment facility + €10M for support facility; allocation from LIFE: €60M (€30M from the sub- programme for environment, 50%from the sub-programme for climate action)
07/12/2018

28. NCFF – A project example (1)
07/12/2018
NCFF – A project example (1)
Payment for ecosystem services
Issue:
Legal practices of upstream land managers affect the water quality
Downstream brewery’s production is affected
Solution:
Land management upstream is improved (e.g. creation of a buffer strip and/or other management practices)
This improves water quality for brewery, but also creates/maintains biodiversity and/or climate adaptation benefits
Problem:
The land managers do not have the funds to pay for the management measures
07/12/2018

29. NCFF – A project example (2)
07/12/2018
NCFF – A project example (2)
Financer:
The brewery pays the land managers for the measures to improve the ecosystem services (contract)
Final recipient
Land managers (eco-system providers)
What is the role of the NCFF?
Investment facility: Provide funding for the loan supporting the necessary investments.
Support facility: Help coordinate between the brewery and land managers, therefore securing the business model of the approach.
07/12/2018

30. Launch of 2014 call Traditional projects Preparatory projects
07/12/2018
Launch of 2014 call
Traditional projects
Preparatory projects
Integrated projects
Technical Assistance projects
Capacity Building projects
………………….. Target: 16 June 2014

31. Deadlines: Project type Deadline Format
07/12/2018
Deadlines:
Project type
Deadline
Format
Technical assistance projects (ENV subprogramme)
15 September 2014
paper
Integrated projects - phase I, concept note (ENV subprogramme)
15 October 2014
Traditional projects
October 2014 (tbc)
eProposal
Preparatory projects
29 October 2014
Integrated projects - phase II, full proposal (ENV subprogramme)
April 2015 (tbc)
Capacity Building projects
on a rolling basis until 30 September 2015