The European Commission has approved funding for 143 new projects under the first call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013), the European fund for the environment. The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €367 million, of which the EU will provide €186 million.

Following the first call under the LIFE+ programme, the Commission received over 700 proposals from public or private bodies from the 27 EU Member States. Of these, 143 were selected for co-funding through the new programme’s three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance and LIFE+ Information and Communication.

• LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and habitats. Of the 264 proposals received, the Commission selected 58 projects for funding from partnerships of conservation bodies, government authorities and other parties. Situated in 21 Member States, they represent a total investment of €165 million, of which the EU will provide over €94 million. The majority (54) are Nature projects, contributing to the implementation of the Birds and/or Habitats Directives[1]and the Natura 2000 network. The other four are Biodiversity projects, a new category of LIFE+ project for pilot schemes that tackle wider biodiversity issues.
• LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance projects are pilot projects that contribute to the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and instruments. Of the 325 proposals received, the Commission selected 74 projects for funding from a wide range of public and private sector organisations. The winning projects, situated in 21 Member States, represent a total investment of €185 million of which the EU will provide €84 million. Projects targeting waste and natural resources (29 projects) account for the largest share of EU funding (approximately €26 million). Climate change is the second most targeted priority area with 22 projects (approximately €24 million). A further 24 projects deal with various issues including water, urban environment, soil, noise, forests, chemicals, air and environment and health.
• LIFE+ Information and Communication projects disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues, and provide training and awareness-raising for the prevention of forest fires. Of the 118 proposals received, the Commission selected 11 projects for funding from a range of public and private sector nature and/or environment organisations. The projects are situated in Spain, France, Finland, Italy, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and represent a total investment of €16 million of which the EU will provide €8 million.

The LIFE+ programme

LIFE+ is the new European financial instrument for the environment with a total budget of €2143 million (two billion one hundred and forty three million euros) for the period 2007-2013. During this period, the Commission will launch one call for LIFE+ project proposals per year.

The Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 15th, a Call for Proposals for the development of actions in conservation and environmental policy in the scope of the Programme LIFE+.