Environmental protection

LIFE+

Elements of the Programme

The LIFE+ Programme is implemented by the European Commission on the basis of annual calls for proposals. Around 78 per cent of the funding will be used for project grants in Member States, with 50 per cent of this dedicated to “Nature” and “Biodiversity”. At least 15 per cent of the total allocated to project grants will fund trans-national projects. The remainder of the funding will be used for operational expenses and to fund activities that have a more trans-European character, such as support for NGOs.

LIFE+ has the following components:

  1. LIFE+ Nature – focusing on the demonstration of best-practice projects concerned with implementing the objectives of the EU Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, including Natura 2000 networks.

  2. LIFE+ Biodiversity - targeting the demonstration of innovative projects for implementing certain objectives of the Commission’s 2006 Communication on halting the loss of biodiversity.
  3. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance - contributing to the development of innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments; the building up of the knowledge base regarding environmental policy and legislation.
  4. LIFE+ Information and Communication - ensuring a regular and effective information flow to provide the basis for policy decisions on the environment, and to provide accessible information to citizens on the state and trends of the environment.

Each Member State has an indicative allocation within the annual LIFE+ budget to co-finance action projects. The size of the allocation will depend on the environmental need of the country (i.e. the size and density of its population) and the area and proportion of the national territory designated as sites of European interest.

The amount available to co-finance projects from the UK is about €15m in 2007, rising to €19m in 2010. LIFE+ will support those activities which have:

  • European added value: Will intervene only where there is a clear EU value and contributes to economies of scale on a European level.
  • Leverage or multiplier effect: Will provide a co-funding mechanism with Member States, regional or local authorities and other public and private operators.
  • Catalytic or demonstrative character: LIFE+ will support actions that show novel ways to approach and implement environment policy.

Whilst the co-financing for most LIFE+ projects will be set at 50 per cent, a maximum of 75 per cent will be available for a proposal that is clearly targeting priority species or habitats. Projects of a more commercial character will only be co-financed to 30 per cent.

The Commission will organize the annual call for proposals and select the proposals to be funded. The selection process is rigorous and external technical experts will assist the Commission make its decisions. The criteria that will used to select projects is normally published in advance.

Member States will be responsible for receiving all the project proposals within their national territory, they will then transmit them to the Commission. The Member States will also have a role in setting national priorities and objectives (from 2008 onwards) and preparing comments on proposals - in particular, in relation to national priorities.

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Implementation in the UK

The Programme will be implemented in the UK by consultants working on behalf of Defra. Beta Technology will act as the UK National Contact Point and will advise applicants on Programme requirements and assist them with the completion of their application form. They will collect UK applications on behalf of Defra.

Further information

Page last modified: 25 June 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs