Funding opportunities within the LIFE programme (2014-2020) EUEB Meeting 17 June 2015, Brussels Sylvie Ludain, DG ENV-A1

General introduction

What is LIFE? The only EU financial instrument fully dedicated to the environment Successfully tested since 1992 LIFE is a catalyst: it provides a platform for the development and exchange of best practices and knowledge LIFE (2014-2020) objectives (ref. Regulation 1293/2013 of 20/12/2013): Contribute to the shift towards a resource-efficient, low carbon, climate-resilient economy, Improve the development, implementation and enforcement of the Union environmental and climate policy and legislation, Support better governance, Support the implementation of the 7th EAP.

Structure and budget for 2014-2020 LIFE Programme €3,456.7 (2014-2020) €1,155 min (55% of ENV Sub-progrm) €864.2 (25% of LIFE budget) Climate Change Mitigation €2,592.5 (75% of LIFE budget) Nature & Biodiversity Sub-programme for Climate Action Climate Change Adaptation Sub-programme for Environment Environment & Resource Efficiency Information & Governance Information & Governance

Types of Funding Projects (at least 81% of the budget) Action grants: 'Traditional' LIFE projects Integrated projects, technical assistance projects for IPs, capacity building projects and preparatory projects Possibility to make contributions to innovative financial instruments to finance projects Operating grants and other types of funding Operating Grants (NGOs, IMPEL) - about 3% of the budget Other types of funding - public procurement (e.g., studies, conferences etc.) - about 15% of the budget LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2014-2017

Co-financing Rates 'Traditional' LIFE projects: 60% during the first multiannual work programme (2014-2017) 55% during the second multiannual work programme (2018-2020) Nature and Biodiversity Projects: 60% (75% for projects targeting priority habitats & species) Integrated projects, preparatory projects and technical assistance projects: 60% Capacity building projects: 100%

LIFE sub-programme for Environment Priority areas: Environment and resource efficiency (ENV): demonstration/pilot projects Implementation, updating and development of EU envt policy and legislation. Bridge the gap between research and development results. Nature and biodiversity (NAT): demonstration/best practice projects Implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives – inside Natura 2000 network or contributing to its integrity. Governance and information (GIE): Information, communication and awareness raising campaigns in line with the priorities of the 7th EAP Promotion of a better governance. Support for cooperation networks and best practices for the application of environmental regulations and enforcement. Thematic Priorities for funding (Annex III of the LIFE Reg.) are translated into project topics for funding in the Multiannual work programme 2014-2017.

LIFE and the EU Ecolabel

Examples of funded LIFE projects

FLOWER WEEK - European Flower Week-Campaign on the EU Ecolabel (2002-2005) Objectives Raise awareness on the EU Ecolabel through campaigns carried out in 9 Member States Target: consumers, retailers, producers, industry… Increase the number of EU Ecolabel licences by 100% in countries with 4 or less, by 50 % in countries with 8 or less and by 25 % in countries with more than 8 licences. - increasing the consumer’s knowledge of the Ecolabel, measured as quantifiable sections of the population who know about the label. Total budget 1,549,104.00 € EU contribution 1,549,104.00 € Miljoestyrelsen, Danish Beneficiary Environmental Protection Agency, Denmark Results: - A common concept for communication on the EU Ecolabel 'Flower' was developed, tested and used; - the graphic toolbox was widely accepted among stakeholders in Europe; - a wide range of promotional material and a significant number of internet sites have also been developed; - the multiple tools developed by the participating countries during the project provide a firm foundation for co-ordinated marketing activities for the EU Ecolabel in the future. www.mst.dk

TOURLINK: Demonstrating how an integrated ecolabeling and tour operating supply chain management strategy can foster sustainability (2004-2007) Objective Demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinating improved common branding for eco-tourism products throughout tour operator supply chains. Total budget 1,871,949.00 € EU contribution 935,310.00 € European Centre for Beneficiary Eco Agro Tourism, Netherlands Results: - on-going cooperation commitments have been made by LIFE partners to build on their quality standard work and progress the concept of a common EU Ecolabel; - a range of new information tools have been tested and made available for suppliers and consumers of tourism products; - information for tourism suppliers is also provided on the web site about a new “Sustainability System” that was developed with LIFE support. This device was designed to help tour operators achieve sustainable supply chain management objectives by encouraging suppliers to monitor their own environmental and social performance. www.greentravelmarket.info

ShMILE: Sustainable hotels in Mediterranean islands and area ShMILE: Sustainable hotels in Mediterranean islands and area. Demonstration project in Corsica, Sardinia and Halkidiki for EU-wide promotion of the EU Ecolabel on tourist accommodation service (2004-2006) Objective Support effective EU-wide promotion and implementation of the Ecolabel on Tourist Accommodation Services (ELTAS), through demonstration actions in the Mediterranean region, and through raising awareness across the EU Total budget 1,005,496.00 € EU contribution 502,498.00 € Environment and Energy Beneficiary Management Agency, France Results: - boosted the positive trend towards eco-labelling in the tourist sector by supporting implementation and training actions for EU-wide implementation of ELTAS, the EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation services; - the creation of a ‘tool box’ (consisting of an audit tool, a description of good practices, a methodology for simple cost/benefit analysis, and a decision making tool) designed to help tourism professionals in their passage towards eco-label implementation.

Promoting sustainable Development in the Region of Halkidiki through Concerted Pilot Actions on Integrated Product Policy Tools (2004-2006) Objectives: - promoting the implementation of Integrated Product Policy (IPP) tools, i.e. Ecolabel (in tourist accommodation), EMAS/ISO 14001 (in food processing companies) and EUREPGAP (in the farming sector); - mobilising and linking tourism enterprises with local agricultural and food industries. Total budget 1,324,500.00 € EU contribution 662,250.00 € Development Beneficiary Association of Halkidiki S.A. Greece Results: - wide dissemination campaign reaching over 800 enterprises and organisations + 176 awareness raising events; - the main project website (www.greendrachma.gr) was linked to three other web platforms relating to local products, green procurement, and benchmarking; - an environmental benchmarking initiative identified best practices and created and operated an on-line benchmarking tool which provided enterprises with quantitative and qualitative comparisons for various environmental parameters. 28 enterprises participated in the benchmarking initiative. Selected as one of the 21 Best LIFE Environment projects in 2007-2008

ECO-TEXTILE: Introduction and Promotion of the ECO-LABEL to the Greek textile industry (2003-2006) Objective - introducing, promoting and implementing the EU's Integrated Product Policy, (especially sustainable production and consumption) in the Hellenic fashion industry; - promoting the Green Product concept and the Ecolabel scheme in the Hellenic textile industry; - compiling a best practice guide and methodology for the evaluation of Ecolabel potential. Total budget 1,150,000.00 € EU contribution 543,900.00 € Hellenic Fashion Beneficiary Industry Association, Greece Results: - the project was successful in spreading the Ecolabel concept to all key market actors in Greece and promoting the Ecolabel scheme in the Hellenic textile industry; - public awareness raising campaign, Training seminars in Athens and Thessaloniki, An Eco-consultancy office was established; - 4 companies were selected for demonstrating Ecolabel projects of selected products – audits were performed and applications for the registration of their products under the Ecolabel scheme were developed. www.eco-textile.gr

The EU Ecolabel in the new LIFE programme The EU Ecolabel is not specifically defined neither in the thematic priorities of the sub-programme for Environment (annex III of the LIFE Regulation) nor as project topic in the Multi-Annual Work Programme 2014-2017. EU Ecolabel-only proposals would not receive the corresponding 10 points during selection EU Ecolabel promotion is however consistent with LIFE priorities, and could be included under the following project topics.

PRIORITY AREA: ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE EFFICIENCY (ENV) Thematic priority: Resource Efficiency, green and circular economy Project topics Projects implementing the circular economy concept through actions spanning the value chain or ensuring the use of secondary resources / scrap materials / wastes in other industries or value chains (eco-design, cascading use of materials, repair, remanufacture, reuse, recycling, new circular business concepts, and innovative take-back and collection systems). Projects implementing new business models for resource efficiency, including establishing resource efficiency practices in SMEs, focussing on the environmental impact, durability, reuse, repair and recycling of their products and processes – including sharing or leasing products rather than selling them. The new business model should result in a reduction in material use and/or energy and water use.

PRIORITY AREA: ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE EFFICIENCY (ENV) Thematic priority: Resource Efficiency, green and circular economy Project topics (continued) Projects promoting the implementation of the European environmental footprint methodology through consumer and stakeholder communication, data availability, quality and traceability along the value chain, calculation simplification, and verification. Projects linking regulatory, financial or reputational incentives to environmental performance by using EMAS or other. Projects that promote GPP through the development, in collaboration with companies, and application of common tender specifications of public authorities with similar purchasing needs and of schemes that allow procurers an easy and reliable verification of green requirements, and the application of such schemes.

PRIORITY AREA: ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND INFORMATION (GIE) Project topic of Sharing of best practice: Exchange of knowledge and good practice on Green Public Procurement (GPP) between public authorities covering at least two of the following elements: green elements in tender documents; evaluation of verification of green criteria; costs and benefits of green purchase; working with existing suppliers to reduce environmental impact and costs of contracts already awarded; monitoring of GPP activities; market consultation; information on market availability; setting up and functioning of central purchasing bodies with specific GPP competence.

Application process & selection

LIFE 2015 call for proposals Launch of the call: 1 June 2015 Submission of applications: 1 or 7 October 2015 (e-proposals) Proposals may be submitted by legal persons (entites) registered in the EU. LIFE 2015 budget for action grants: EUR 240,8 Mo (including EUR 184,1 Mo for the Environment sub-programme). Selection (EASME) lasts ~ 1 year LIFE National Contact Points, Information sessions in Member States Check at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/life2015/index.htm

Thank you for your attention! More information at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm