LIFE+, the new Financial Instrument for the Environment, has entered into force with the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal L149 of 9 June 2007.

Information workshops in each Member State

The European Commission has also scheduled workshops for potential LIFE+ applicants in each EU member state, providing valuable advice and guidance on what national authorities and the Commission expect from project proposals in national languages. Potential beneficiaries are advised if possible to attend one of these workshops, which will take place in May, June and July. For the schedule of workshops and contact points, go to the workshops page.

National priorities

The LIFE+ Regulation allows EU countries to specify national priorities in relation to each LIFE+ call for proposals. For the 2009 call, nine countries (Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden) have exercised this right. Projects from those countries are more likely to be selected for funding if they are in line with the relevant national priorities, as well as with the LIFE+ criteria. Read more about the respective national priorities in each of the nine countries.

In brief: the LIFE+ components

LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity supports projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU's Birds and Habitats Directives, and that contribute to the EU's goal of halting the loss of biodiverity. The maximum co-financing rate can be 75 percent, but is normally 50 percent.

LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity application package

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance supports technological projects that offer significant environmental benefits, for example process or efficiency improvements. This part of LIFE+ also helps projects that improve the implementation of EU environmental legislation, that build the environmental policy knowledge base, and that develop environmental information sources through monitoring (including forest monitoring). Projects can be co-financed up to a level of 50 percent.

LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance application package

LIFE+ Information and Communication co-finances up to 50 percent projects that spread information about environmental issues, such as climate change and conservation. This strand of LIFE+ can also support forest fire prevention awareness and training campaigns.

LIFE+ Information & Communication application package  

LIFE+, the new Financial Instrument for the Environment, has entered into force with the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal L149 of 9 June 2007. LIFE+ 2009 call for proposals now open

15 May 2009 The third LIFE+ call for proposals has been published on 15 May 2009, with up to €250 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.

Project proposals should be sent to the relevant national authority no later than 15 September 2009. Thereafter, national authorities will send project proposals on to the European Commission by 22 October 2009, and the Commission will check the outline projects against the LIFE+ eligibility criteria and will assess proposals on the basis of the LIFE+ selection and award criteria. Final announcement of the projects chosen for funding is expected in July/August 2010, with projects starting at the earliest on 1 September 2010.

Project promoters are encouraged to make best use of the time available up to the deadline for submission of proposals to national authorities (15 September). Project proposals should be carefully checked to ensure that they are in line with all the criteria set out in the call documents.