The European Commission has today
approved funding for 225 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the
European Union's environment fund. The projects selected were submitted
by beneficiaries in all 28 Member States and cover actions in the fields
of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and
information and communication on environmental issues across the EU.
Overall, they represent a total investment of some €589.3 million, of
which the EU will provide €282.6 million.
Environment Commissioner Janez
Potočnik said: “In the final year of the current programming period, the
LIFE+ programme once again demonstrates its ability to deliver
essential financial support for environmental and nature conservation
projects with significant added value for the EU. These latest projects
will make a vital contribution to the preservation, conservation and
enhancement of Europe’s natural capital, as well as helping to achieve
sustainable growth through investment in a low carbon and resource
efficient economy. The widely acknowledged success of LIFE+ and its
projects has ensured the recent adoption of a new LIFE Regulation for
Environment and Climate Action, with an increased budget, for the period
2014-2020”
Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard said: "I
am happy to see so many innovative projects also this year. And to make
them happen, we will contribute with more than €41.2 million, with
a total budget of €109.4 million. An ever rising share of LIFE projects
is contributing to climate action. And we want to improve this even
more: The new LIFE programme from 2014 to 2020 will foresee over 850
million Euros dedicated to climate action. This will roughly triple the
amount which is spent on climate action."
The Commission received 1 468
applications in response to its latest call for proposals, which closed
in June 2013. Of these, 225 were selected for co-funding through the
programme’s three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+
Environment Policy and Governance and LIFE+ Information and
Communication.
1) LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and habitats. Of
the 342 proposals received, the Commission selected 92 projects for
funding from partnerships of conservation bodies, government authorities
and other parties. Led by project beneficiaries in 25 Member States,
they represent a total investment of €262.5 million, of which the EU
will provide some €147.9 million. The majority (79) are Nature projects,
contributing to the implementation of the Birds and/or Habitats
Directives and the Natura 2000 network. The other 13 are Biodiversity
projects, a LIFE+ project category for pilot schemes that tackle wider
biodiversity issues.
2) LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance projects are
pilot projects that contribute to the development of innovative policy
ideas, technologies, methods and instruments. Of the 961 proposals
received, the Commission selected 125 projects for funding from a wide
range of public and private sector organisations. The winning projects,
led by project beneficiaries in 22 Member States, represent a total
investment of €318.5 million, of which the EU will provide some €130.8
million.
Under this component, the Commission will contribute more than €41.2 million to 33 projects directly tackling climate change, with a total budget of €109.4 million.
The selected projects, situated in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain,
France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and
the United Kingdom, are highlighted in the annex to this press release.
In addition, many other projects focusing on other issues will also have
an indirect impact on greenhouse emissions.
Other important areas of focus include waste and natural resources, innovation, water, and chemicals.
3) LIFE+ Information and Communication projects disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues. Of the 165 proposals received, the Commission
selected for funding eight (8) projects from a range of public and
private sector nature and/or environment organisations. The projects are
based in six Member States - Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland
and Romania - and represent a total investment of €8.3 million, of which
the EU will provide some €3.9 million.
Half of the eight projects are
concerned with EU environmental policy campaigns, three aim to raise
awareness about nature and biodiversity matters and the remaining one is
focused on forest fire prevention.
Background
LIFE+ is the European financial
instrument for the environment and has a total budget of €2.1 billion
for the period 2007-2013. The Commission launched one call for LIFE+
project proposals per year.
The LIFE programme will continue
from 2014-2020 under the new LIFE Regulation for Environment and
Climate Action. The programme has a total budget for the period of €3.4
billion in December 2013 prices, and will have a sub-programme for
environment and a sub-programme for climate action.
More information
See a summary and contact email address of all the new projects funded under LIFE+, broken down by country: MEMO/14/320 (+ annex with the projects for your country translated in the language of your country)
For information on LIFE+: http://ec.europa.eu/life
Contact the relevant national authorities:
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