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The LIFE (the Financial Instrument for the Environment) Regulation, which was published on 20 December 2013, sets a budget for the next funding period, 2014–2020, of €3.4 billion in current prices. View the LIFE Regulation
The Commission invites legal persons (entities) registered in the European Union (EU) to present proposals for the 2016 Call for proposals for LIFE Action Grants. The call covers proposals for both LIFE sub-programmes.
For the sub-programme for Environment, this call will cover action grants for "Traditional" projects, Preparatory projects, Integrated projects, Technical Assistance projects.
For the sub-programme for Climate Action, this call will cover action grants for "Traditional projects", Integrated projects, Technical Assistance projects.
Proposals may be submitted by legal persons (entities) registered in the EU. Applicants may fall into three types of beneficiaries: (1) public bodies, (2) private commercial organisations and (3) private non-commercial organisations (including NGOs).
Applicants must use the LIFE 2016 application packages (in English only) for the preparation of their proposals. Each application package contains full and detailed explanations with regard to eligibility, procedures, co-financing rates and all other relevant details. These can be downloaded below.
For "Traditional" projects, applicants must use only the eProposal Web application to create and submit proposal(s). Access is provided via this link. All other types of projects must use the application forms provided in the corresponding application package. Please note that the conditions laid down in each document in each application package will be binding on the successful applicants, so please read them carefully.
The indicative total budget for project action grants for this call is EUR 337,536,184. Of this, EUR 273,936,184 is foreseen for the sub-programme for Environment and EUR 63,600,000 for the sub-programme for Climate Action. At least 55% of the budgetary resources allocated to projects supported by way of action grants under the sub-programme for Environment shall be dedicated to projects supporting the conservation of nature and biodiversity.
Applicants may not be clear which EU funding programme (LIFE or other programme) or which part of LIFE is most suited to their needs. In addition to the information below, some further but limited guidance may be found in this orientation document.
Possible support by national authorities: Member States have set up a network of Life National Contacts Points NCPs (see list). NCPs may provide support to applicants during the preparation and submission phase For further details, please contact your National Contact Point. Please note that certain NCPs set limit date to be respected in case you wish to access their support services.
"Traditional" projects cover the following priority areas:
Under the sub-programme for Environment:
Under the sub-programme for Climate Action:
NOTA BENE
Some important novelties have been introduced concerning "Traditional" projects; they are summarised in the first page of the Guidelines and detailed further in the different sections. Please make sure you devote the necessary attention to such novelties.
"Traditional" projects may be best-practice, demonstration, pilot or information, awareness and dissemination projects (ie similar to LIFE+ Nature, Biodiversity, Environment and Information projects), depending on the priority area (see below). Best practice projects apply appropriate, cost-effective and state-of-the-art techniques, methods and approaches taking into account the specific context of the project; demonstration projects put into practice, test, evaluate and disseminate actions, methodologies or approaches that are new or unknown in the specific context of the project, such as the geographical, ecological, socio-economic context, and that could be applied elsewhere in similar circumstances; pilot projects apply a technique or method that has not been applied or tested before, or elsewhere, that offer potential environmental or climate advantages compared to current best practice and that can subsequently be applied on a larger scale to similar situations; information, awareness and dissemination projects aim at supporting communication, dissemination of information and awareness raising in the fields of the sub-programmes for Environment and Climate Action.
| Calendar 2016: Traditional projects Summary Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grant Type | Opening Date | Closing Date |
| Climate Change Action (Mitigation, Adaptation and Climate Governance & Information) | 19 May 2016 | 07 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels time |
| Environment & Resource Efficiency | 19 May 2016 | 12 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels time |
| Nature & Biodiversity | 19 May 2016 | 15 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels time |
| Environmental Governance & Information | 19 May 2016 | 15 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels time |
LIFE Nature & Biodiversity (sub-programme for Environment) will co-finance action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives Directives and the Union Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, and the development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network.
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Nature & Biodiversity application package 2016
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency (sub-programme for Environment) will co-finance action grants for pilot and demonstration projects to develop, test and demonstrate policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions, including development and demonstration of innovative technologies, to environmental challenges, suitable for being replicated, transferred or mainstreamed, including with respect to the link between the environment and health, and in support of resource efficiency-related policy and legislation, including the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe; and to improve the knowledge base for the development, implementation, assessment, monitoring and evaluation of Union environmental policy and legislation, and for the assessment and monitoring of the factors, pressures and responses that impact on the environment within and outside the Union.
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency application package 2016
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
LIFE Environmental Governance & Information (sub-programme for Environment) will co-finance action grants for information, awareness and dissemination projects to promote awareness raising on environmental matters, including generating public and stakeholder support of Union policy-making in the field of the environment, and to promote knowledge on sustainable development and new patterns for sustainable consumption; to support communication, management, and dissemination of information in the field of the environment, and to facilitate knowledge sharing on successful environmental solutions and practice, including by developing cooperation platforms among stakeholders and training; and to promote and contribute to more effective compliance with and enforcement of Union environmental legislation, in particular by promoting the development and dissemination of best practices and policy approaches.
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Environmental Governance & Information application package 2016
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
LIFE Climate Change Mitigation (sub-programme for Climate Action) will co-finance action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; that contribute to the implementation and development of Union policy and legislation on climate change mitigation, including mainstreaming across policy areas, in particular by developing, testing and demonstrating policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions for climate change mitigation; that improve the knowledge base for the development, assessment, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of effective climate change mitigation actions and measures and that enhance the capacity to apply that knowledge in practice; that facilitate the development and implementation of integrated approaches, such as for climate change mitigation strategies and action plans, at local, regional or national level; and that contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative climate change mitigation technologies, systems, methods and instruments that are suitable for being replicated, transferred or mainstreamed. See also the LIFE section of the DG Climate Action web-site.
LIFE Climate Change Adaptation (sub-programme for Climate Action) will co-finance action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to supporting efforts leading to increased resilience to climate change; that contribute to the development and implementation of Union policy on climate change adaptation, including mainstreaming across policy areas, in particular by developing, testing and demonstrating policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions for climate change adaptation, including, where appropriate, ecosystem-based approaches; that improve the knowledge base for the development, assessment, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of effective climate change adaptation actions and measures, prioritising, where appropriate, those applying an ecosystem-based approach, and to enhance the capacity to apply that knowledge in practice; that facilitate the development and implementation of integrated approaches, such as for climate change adaptation strategies and action plans, at local, regional or national level, prioritising, where appropriate, ecosystem-based approaches; and that contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative climate change adaptation technologies, systems, methods and instruments that are suitable for being replicated, transferred or mainstreamed. See also the LIFE section of the DG Climate Action web-site.
LIFE Climate Governance and Information (sub-programme for Climate Action) will co-finance action grants for information, awareness and dissemination projects that promote awareness raising on climate matters, including generating public and stakeholder support of Union policy-making in the field of the climate, and to promote knowledge on sustainable development; that support communication, management, and dissemination of information in the field of the climate and to facilitate knowledge sharing on successful climate solutions and practice, including by developing cooperation platforms among stakeholders and training; and that promote and contribute to more effective compliance with and enforcement of Union climate legislation, in particular by promoting the development and dissemination of best practices and policy approaches. See also the LIFE section of the DG Climate Action web-site.
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, Governance & Information application package 2016 (Note: this one package covers all 3 Climate Action strands)
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
Preparatory projects (sub-programme for Environment) address specific needs for the development and implementation of Union environmental or climate policy and legislation. The specific topics are indicated in the application guide. Please note that there is no Preparatory project call under the Climate sub-programme for 2016.
| 2016 Calendar for Preparatory Projects | |
|---|---|
| Publication of call: | 19 May 2016 |
| Deadline: | 20 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels local time |
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Preparatory projects application package 2016 (Note: sub-programme for Environment only)
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
LIFE Preparatory projects to support deployment of European Solidarity Corps (sub-programme for Environment) contribute to strengthening the Union’s capacity to provide volunteering services for young people across the European Union. It focuses mainly on conservation of Natura 2000 sites, environmental protection, restoration of natural areas and ecosystems and on capacity building among ongoing LIFE projects.
Contact mail for the LIFE Preparatory Projects for the European Solidarity Corps: ENV-LIFESELECTION@ec.europa.eu
| 2016 Calendar: Preparatory Projects for the European Solidarity Corps | |
|---|---|
| Publication of call: | 07 December 2016 |
| Deadline: | 07 March 2017 |
Download: Zip file of the LIFE-European Solidarity Corps application package 2016 (Note: sub-programme for Environment only)
Updated 23.12.2016
(~ 2.6 MB)
Download: FAQ 2016 LIFE Preparatory Projects for the European Solidarity Corps (updated 28/02/2017)
(~ 2.6 MB)
Integrated projects under the sub-programme for Environment are projects implementing on a large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national scale) environmental plans or strategies required by specific Union environmental legislation, developed pursuant to other Union acts or developed by Member States' authorities, primarily in the areas of nature (including Natura 2000 network management), water, waste and air, while ensuring involvement of stakeholders and promoting the coordination with and mobilisation of at least one other relevant Union, national or private funding source.
Integrated projects under the sub-programme for Climate Action are projects implementing on a large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national scale) climate action plans, strategies or roadmaps required by specific Union climate legislation, developed pursuant to other Union acts or developed by Member States' authorities, primarily in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, while ensuring involvement of stakeholders and promoting the coordination with and mobilisation of at least one other relevant Union, national or private funding source.
| Calendar for Integrated Projects | |
|---|---|
| Publication of call: | 19 May 2016 |
| Deadline: Phase I (concept note) | 26 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels local time |
| Deadline: Phase II (full proposal) | 15 March 2017 for Integrated Projects under the sub-programme for Environment (indicative deadline) 15 April 2017 for Integrated Projects under the sub-programme for Climate Action (indicative deadline) |
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Environment Integrated projects application package (Under the sub-programme for Environment)
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Climate Action Integrated projects application package (Under the sub-programme for Climate Action)
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
Download: Frequently Asked Questions about the LIFE 2016 Call for Integrated Project Proposals (08/03/2017)
(~ 2 MB)
Technical Assistance projects (sub-programme for Environment and sub-programme for Climate Action) provide, by way of action grants, financial support to help applicants prepare integrated projects.
| Calendar for Technical Assistance projects | |
|---|---|
| Publication of call: | 19 May 2016 |
| Deadline: | 15 September 2016 at 16:00 Brussels local time |
Download: Zip file of the LIFE Technical Assistance projects application package (Note: this one package covers both Environment and Climate Action strands)
Updated 16 June 2016:
(~ 3 MB)
Environment:
Climate Action:
