1. Programme for the Environment and Climate Action
LIFE
Programme for the Environment and Climate Action
Jean-Claude Merciol
Head of unit ENV.A.4.

2. LIFE = a solid brand Around 5.000 projects supported in 25 years
LIFE contributes towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy while protecting / improving the environment, maintaining and improving biodiversity, ecosystems and, in particular, the Natura 2000 network
Strong support to birds & habitats directives since the beginning
Recognized by the Fitness check of the Birds & Habitat directives
Budget : €3,456.7 million

3. The new context and the European Commission proposals
Increasing challenges:
alarming news on biodiversity decline (IPBES)
EU citizens mobilisation at all level
Tremendous changes needed: in production, consumption, education
Commission intentions:
New Green Deal,
New Biodiversity strategy 2030,
Climate law on climate neutrality

4. PROGRAMME FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION (LIFE)
Building on 25 years of success:
Total budget of €5.45 billion = an increase of almost €2 billion from the present LIFE
Reinforcing the programme's strengths
Improving coherence, efficiency and effectiveness

5. New / Enhanced Elements:
New Clean Energy Transition sub-programme
Dedicated sub-programme for Nature and Biodiversity including new Strategic Nature Projects
Expanded use of Strategic Integrated Projects
Greater flexibility to target key and emerging issues
Increased support to LIFE National Focal Points to build capacity for programme access across all MS

6. State of play of negotiations:
Compromise reached - 1rst reading on most of the provisions agreed
Types of projects: Strategic Integrated Projects, Strategic Nature Projects, technical assistance projects, standard action projects, "other actions"
Maximum % of co-financing : 60% in general, 70% for NGO support, 75% for nature and biodiversity, 75-95% for capacity building for Member States, not specified for other actions

7. State of play of negotiations:
Remains to be agreed: budget, horizontal issues
Start of the programme implementation :
Multi Annual Work Programme:
at least two
no priority topics in the regulation
project topics or specific needs for which pre- allocation of funds is foreseen

8. State of play of Multi Annual Work Programme:
MAWP implementation :
Involvement of Stakeholders: regular contacts, public opinion survey, LIFE workshop in November
LIFE committee involvement
Support Member States for mainstreaming an Strategic Nature Projects (SNaP)

9. https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/life
LIFE website