1. Monitoring Expert, NEEMO GEIE
The LIFE Programme
Luule Sinnisov
Monitoring Expert, NEEMO GEIE
LIFE Info Day Estonia
5 May 2017 / Tallinn

2. LIFE's overall objective
To contribute to: the implementation, update and development of the EU environmental and climate policy and legislation
L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement

3. LIFE – Objectives
Contributing 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 the 7th Environment Action Programme

4. LIFE – Then and Now
LIFE : more than 4700 projects in the fields of
Nature & biodiversity
Other environmental sectors and governance
Environmental information
LIFE 2014 to 2020, two sub-programmes for:
Environment
Climate action

5. What is LIFE financing?

6. LIFE 2014-2020 – Strands Environment sub-programme
Environment & Resource Efficiency (ENV)
Nature & Biodiversity (NAT, BIO)
Environmental Governance & Information (GIE)
Climate Action sub-programme
Climate Change Mitigation (CCM)
Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)
Climate Change Governance & Information (GIC)

7. LIFE 2014-2020 : Priority Areas & Budget7

8. LIFE 2014-2020 – Geographical Coverage
Principle: Applicable where the Treaty on European Union applies
Activities outside of the EU may be included if:
Necessary to achieve Union environmental or climate objectives
Necessary to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member States’ territories to which the Treaties apply
The Coordinating Beneficiary is established in the EU
The principle is based on article 5 of the Regulation, which opens the possibility for countries outside the EU to participate, BUT only when their involvement is necessary to reach LIFE objectives.

9. LIFE - General features
Applicants - Companies, research institutes, NGOs, public administrations active in the field of environment and climate protection ; all legal persons registered in the EU
Emphasis on replicability/transferability, long-term sustainability, and an EU added value of the project results
Not focused on research ( H2020)
No large infrastructure; not focused on rural or regional development ( agricultural, structural funds)
Support and monitoring: from Contracting Authority (EASME or European Commission) and external monitoring team
Some research activities can be planned within preparatory actions
Some infrastructure can be financed mostly for NAT projects (e.g. walking paths in a protected area, fencing to protect species, etc.)

10. Who does what in LIFE? .

11. LIFE General features
Funding rate: in general 60% of eligible cost in the MAWP ;
Actors: EASME for grants except environmental integrated projects and technical assistance under environment sub- programme, and preparatory projects; EIB/intermediary banks for financial instruments; intervention NCP only if desired
National Allocations: Only for Environment sub-programme, only until Call 2017.
National allocations are for 4 years (during the whole programming period, ), and not per year
Check national allocation for your respective country.

12. The "traditional" projects
For whom?
All legal person registered in the EU
For what?
Pursuit of general and specific objectives of the 6 priority areas
Sub-programme for environment: additional focus on thematic priorities and on project topics (LIFE multiannual work-programme for )
Average size? 1 to 5 beneficiaries; EU contribution: €500,000 to €1.5 million
Co-funding rate?
60%;
NAT under specific conditions linked to conservation actions on priority habitat/species: 75%

13. Integrated projects (IPs)
For whom?
Public administration and other entities active in the field of environment and climate protection and capable of coordinating, besides the IP, complementary actions co-funded by additional private, public (preferably EU) funds
For what?
Implementing Union environmental and climate plans and strategies (LIFE MAWP for ); big scale; complementary actions with additional co-funding; involvement of stakeholders
Average size?
2 to 10 beneficiaries; EU contribution: €10 to 15 million; about 3 IPs per Member State
Co-funding rate?
60%
It is important to understand that IPs must aim towards the FULL implementation of the target plan/strategy. They are not just big traditional projects that might do part of a relevant plan/strategy.  They will need to include more strategic work to help the beneficiaries overcome whatever are the roadblocks that have so far prevented them from implementing the plan/strategy.  

14. Technical Assistance Project (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; can be applied for a year before the intended IP or in the same year
Average size?
Maximum 1% of the allocation for IP's => maximum €100,000
Co-funding rate?
60%
It is possible to apply for a TA project in the same year as the intended IP application, since the TA applications are processed fast enough.  In this case, the TA will obviously not be used to develop the IP concept note since it would be submitted at the same time as the TA application.
Beneficiaries from MS benefiting of a CAP are not eligible for TA under the current programming period!

15. Preparatory projects (PR)
For whom?
Public sector, NGOs, private agencies involved in the wider environmental and climate change sector
For what?
Supporting specific needs for the implementation of the EU environmental and climate policy and legislation
Average size ( )?
Sub-programme for the environment: max 10.5 million euro
Sub-programme for climate: max 1.45 million Euro
Co-funding rate?
60%

16. LIFE 2014-2020 – Important documents
The LIFE Regulation (EU Regulation 1293/2013 of 20/12/2013)
The LIFE Multiannual Work Programme (Commission Decision of 19/03/2014)
The Action/Operating grant agreements of beneficiaries with the Contracting Authority (including General Conditions) or agreements of recipients with banks
The Multiannual Work Programme (MAWP) is stable for 4 years to ensure stability in both the selection/award criteria and also in the project topics for traditional projects under the environment sub-programme. 
This is essential reading for anyone thinking of submitting a project!

17. LIFE 2017 – Budget – Traditional projects

18. What's new in the call 2017?
For all LIFE strands: Encouraging up-taking of results from research
Form B3: Projects concerned by up-taking results from EU financed research projects (FPs/H2020), will have to describe comprehensively how those results will be used in the LIFE project
This can drive to an additional point in the scoring

20. Thank you for your Attention