Presentation of Anne Burrill (EU Commission - DG ENV) on 'LIFE: the EU programme for the Environment & Climate action' during the conference 'Environmental challenges & Climate change opportunities' organised by Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)

1. LIFE: the EU programme for the
Environment and Climate Action
Anne Burrill
European Commission
Antwerp, 24/03/20165

2. Why LIFE?
It is the only EU financial instrument fully dedicated to the
environment
LIFE is a catalyst: it provides a platform for the development and
exchange of best practices and knowledge thereby improving,
catalysing and accelerating changes
LIFE is the ideal instrument to show to regional and national
authorities the benefits of investing in the environment sector and
incentivising them to develop strategic frameworks for spending.
LIFE has been successfully tested since 1992: positive feed-back
and final evaluation.
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3. LIFE 2014-2020 – Objectives
contribution towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon and
climate-resilient economy; protecting and improving the
environment; maintaining and improving biodiversity,
ecosystems and, in particular, the Natura 2000 network
improving the development, implementation and enforcement of
Union environmental and climate policy and legislation
integrating and mainstreaming of environmental and climate
objectives into other Union policies
improving environmental and climate governance
implementing of the 7th Environment Action Programme
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4. LIFE 2014-2020 Structure
LIFE Programme
€3,456.7 (2014-2020)
Sub-programme for
Climate Action
€864.2
(25% of LIFE
budget)
Climate Change
Mitigation
Climate Change
Adaptation
Information &
Governance
Sub-programme for
Environment
€2,592.5
(75% of LIFE
budget)
Nature &
Biodiversity
Environment &
Resource Efficiency
Information &
Governance
€1,155 min
(55% of ENV
Sub-progrm)
427/03/2015
NGOs

5. LIFE 2014-2020 - Budget
Total budget of €3.5 billion
For projects funded by action grants and financial instruments:
€2.8 billion (81% of total)
Environment sub-programme €2.1 billion for projects
Nature & Biodiversity including related governance and
information €1.22 billion (more than 55% of sub-
programme ENV minus financial instruments)
Climate action sub-programme €0.69 billion for projects
IPs budget: Max. €770 million for 7 years, of which about
€604 million for Environment sub-programme
Operating grants to environmental and climate NGOs
€63 million
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6. LIFE -- General features
Beneficiaries may include: Private companies(mainly
SMEs), NGO, public administration active in the field of
environment and climate protection – alone or in partnership
Emphasis on replicability/transferability and longterm
sustainability of the project results
Not focused on research( H2020)
No large infrastructure, not focused on rural or regional
development ( agricultural, structural funds)
Encourages:
positive complementarity between LIFE priorities and
strands and other (in)direct Union funding programmes;
multi-purpose design to deliver in several sectors;
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7. What is eligible for cofunding?
In general: All cost directly related to the project
objectives
Personnel costs (if public authority: 102% rule)
External assistance (limited to 35% of the budget)
Equipment (special rules on depreciation)
Overheads (limited to 7%)
Consumables/Other costs
Land purchase (only for nature or climate change
objectives, and with dedication to nature purposes)
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8. 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.
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9. LIFE Tools: Action grants
"Traditional" Projects:
Pilot projects
Demonstration projects
Best practice projects
Information, awareness and dissemination projects
Integrated projects
Technical assistance projects
Preparatory projects
Capacity building projects
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10. LIFE Tools – Operating grants for NGOs
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.
Around 25-30 beneficiaries (NGOs) supported every year
Average EU contribution around EUR 325.000
Max. EU co-funding rate 70% (average 50%)
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11. LIFE Tools: Financial Instruments
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).
For what?
Credits/bank guarantees/ … for environment or climate projects
Average size?
1 recipient;
EU contribution: €5 to €10 million (NCFF); €40,000 - €… (PF4EE)
Implementation
Delegated to the EIB
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12. The LIFE Multiannual Work Programmes
Frameworks for four years (2014-2017) and 3 years (2018-
2020) for implementing the LIFE Regulation:
budget,
project topics for "traditional" projects under the sub-programme
environment,
selection methodology and criteria,
indicators,
timetable for calls
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13. Environment - Environment & Resource Efficiency
(ENV)
 Thematic priorities:
 Water including the marine environment
 Waste
 Resource efficiency including soil and forests, and green and circular
economy
 Environment and health including chemicals and noise
 Air
 "Traditional": Pilot and demonstration projects
 Eligible, high quality projects are considered top priority if a project
topic is fully applicable and the project is demonstrative EU wide
 Integrated waste, water, and air projects implementing
Union environmental plans
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14. Environment – Nature & Biodiversity
(NAT)
"Traditional" pilot, demonstration, best practice
 Eligible, high quality projects are considered top priority if a project topic
is fully applicable
Integrated nature projects implementing Prioritised Action
Frameworks (PAFs)
Implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020,
preferably with pilot or demonstration projects or projects
financed through the financial instrument Natural Capital
Financing Facility (NCFF)
*At least 55% of the action grants budget under the sub-programme
Environment is for nature & biodiversity, including´related governance &
information
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15. Environment – Environmental Governance &
Information (GIE)
"Traditional": information and awareness raising
projects and projects facilitating knowledge sharing;
New focus: Support for cooperation networks and best
practices for the application of environmental
regulations and enforcement
New focus: Promotion of a better governance and
support for environmental NGOs.
Eligible, high quality projects are considered top priority if
a project topic (see MAWP 2014-2017) is fully applicable.
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16. Climate Action – Climate Change Mitigation
(CCM)
"Traditional": Pilot (=innovative, but not research!) and
demonstration projects
Integrated climate change mitigation projects
implementing established Union, national or regional climate
change mitigation plans (see LIFE Regulation and MAWP
2014-2017)
Projects funded by the financial instrument Natural
Capital Financing Facility (NCFF) and Private Finance
for Energy Efficiency (PF4EE)
Emphasis on post-carbon society, low carbon
strategies, and land use management
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17. CCM – Areas of particular interest (2014)
 Land use sector: e.g. landscape and land management
strategies and practice which limit emissions, particularly
organic soils, conservation of natural carbon sinks
 Greenhouse gas monitoring and accounting of land use change
and forestry
 Sustainable use of solid biomass
 Agriculture: implementation of low carbon farming practices
with a transformational impact and analysis and development
of improvements for existing climate measures under CAP

18. Climate Action – Climate Change Adaptation
(CCA)
"Traditional": Pilot (=innovative, but not research!) and
demonstration projects
Integrated climate change adaptation projects
implementing established Union, national or regional climate
change adaptation plans (see LIFE Regulation and MAWP
2014-2017)
Projects funded by the financial instrument Natural
Capital Financing Facility (NCFF)
Emphasis on the implementation of adaptation
strategies
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19. CCA - Areas of particular interest (2014)
cross-border management of floods, fostering collaborative
agreements based on the EU Floods Directive
trans-boundary coastal management, with emphasis on
densely populated deltas and coastal cities
mainstreaming adaptation into urban land use planning,
building layouts and natural resources management
mountain and island areas, with emphasis on sustainable
and resilient agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors
sustainable management of water; combating desertification
and forest fires in drought-prone areas.

20. Climate Action – Climate Governance &
Information (GIC)
"Traditional": information and awareness raising
projects and projects facilitating knowledge sharing;
Support for cooperation networks and best practices for
the application of environmental regulations and
enforcement
Promotion of a better governance and support for
environmental NGOs.
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21. The "traditional" projects
For whom?
Private companies (mainly SMEs), NGOs, public administrations
active in the field of environment and climate protection
For what?
Pursuit of general and specific objectives of the priority areas.
Sub-programme for environment: additional focus on thematic
priorities and on project topics (LIFE multiannual work-programme
for 2014-2017 - LIFE MAWP for 2014-2017)
Average size?
1 to 5 beneficiaries; EU contribution: €500,000 to €1.5 million
Co-funding rate?
60%; NAT: for priority habitats/species: 75%
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22. LIFE – "pilot" - example
Soil remediation: testing of new methodology
(alkaline hydrolysis) as a technology for remediation
of pesticide contaminated soil and groundwater
Testing and applying of an entirely new method
NorthPestClean, DK
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23. LIFE – "demonstration" - example
Resource- and cost-efficient public housing -
Extremadura
Putting together elements tested elsewhere to a new entity/in a
new context
Edea, ES
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24. LIFE – "best practice" - example
Preserve valuable habitats (meanders and oxbow lakes of
Emajõgi River) and guarantee stability of priority fish species in
a Natura 2000 area
2013
2011
HappyFish (EE)
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25. "gov&info" - examples
Bring poison cases to court
Make governments create a
legal framework
VenenoNo (ES)
Raise awareness about Natura
2000
Create a Natura2000 day
Conéctate- activa tu propria riqueza Red
Natura2000 (ES)
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26. Which subprogramme?
Environment
•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

27. LIFE – Integrated Projects
Implementation of an EU Plan or Strategy
Water: River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)
Air: Air Quality Management Plans (AQMP)
Waste: Waste Management Plans (WMP)
Nature: Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF)
Climate Mitigation: greenhouse gases strategies
Climate Adaptation: low carbon economy, climate resilient society
Ensure supplementary funding sources for
complementary actions, preferably EU funding
Integrate/mainstream environmental/climate policy in
other EU policies
Involve all relevant stakeholders - and think BIG!
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28. 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
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29. 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!!
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30. 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.
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31. 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
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32. Water IP example
Objective: to implement the target plan and thereby provide
flood protection, environment's capacity for water
retention, water quantity, water quality, biodiversity
and/or recreation benefits
Desired additional outcomes:
contribute to improving ecosystem services;
deliver also for N2000 in a whole river basin or large catchment
resilience to future climate change
Necessary elements: according to the target plan (incl. targeted
infrastructure investment, use of low impact measures like
green infrastructure for depollution, land management and
land use change); supplementary funding and
complementary actions outside the LIFE programme.
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33. Technical Assistance Projects (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%
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34. Preparatory projects
Topics (2014):
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)
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35. What awaits the beneficiaries (1)
Monitoring of Project Outcomes: Follow-up on the
targeted environmental/climate outcomes related to at
least one of the relevant outcome indicators and to the
replicability/transferability of the related actions
Monitoring of Project Progress : Ensure timeliness
and full compliance of the project with the proposal
Reporting: Every 18 months technical and financial,
1 mid-term report with payment request, 1 final
report with payment request. In English; annexes in
language of the application (relevant translation
costs incurred after project start are eligible)27/03/2015 35

36. What awaits the beneficiaries (2)
Support: An external Monitoring Team (MoT) for
technical and financial FAQ related to reporting and
project management; EASME/Commission for IPs
under the sub-programme for environment for bigger
issues (modification requests, payments), but
always through MoT
Visits: MoT: first 9 months after project start, then
once a year; EASME/Commission: at most once in
the lifetime of the project, normally towards the end.
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37. 2015 Call - Provisional Calendar
3737
Grant Type Phase Opening Date Closing Date
Traditional Projects 01 June 2015
15 September
2015
Preparatory Projects 01 June 2015
30 October
2015
Technical Assistance
Projects
01 June 2015
Mid September
2015
Integrated Projects
Concept Notes 01 June 2015
01 October
2015
Full Proposals Mid April 2016
NGO Framework
Partnerships
May 2015 July 2015

38. Application Package (per project
type, per priority area)
Guidelines for Applicants (and forms)
Evaluation Guidelines
Model Grant and Common Provisions
Comparative Document (is LIFE the right instrument? Which
strand?):
 Vs. Horizon 2020 vs. structural funds
 NAT (vs. BIO) vs. ENV vs. CCA vs. CCM // GIE vs. GIC?
3838

39. Thank you for your attention!
For more information, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm
which contains the LIFE Regulation,
MAWP, Application Packages, LIFE project
database, National Contact Points…
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