Reporting templates

The Standard Agreement and Common Provisions state that "detailed guidelines for reporting will be made available to the beneficiaries" (Article 11 SAP/CP). The following pages therefore provide information and standard forms for:

• Financial reporting
• Timesheets
• Audit reporting

Below, you will find standard models for Progress, Interim and Final Reports (revised for LIFE-Environment and LIFE-Nature in 2005).

Guidelines for reporting: LIFE-Environment projects

Progress report model

Interim/final report model

Instructions for the "Go/NoGo" Progress Report for 2005 and 2006 projects

As already indicated during the revision phase, LIFE-Environment projects are requested to submit one of the Progress Reports as a so-called "Go/NoGo report". In a nutshell, the Go/NoGo Progress Report seeks to provide an assessment of the following questions: "Will the project be able to produce the expected results and objectives?" and consequently "Is it still worth funding it?".

The timing for this reporting is not fixed by the EC, but was decided by the beneficiary during the revision phase depending on the planning of activities for the project. It is generally expected that the Go/NoGo Progress Report is provided prior to the Interim Report. The experience from many years of managing the LIFE programme (and other programmes in the Commission) has proved statistically that most of the problems leading to the total failure of a LIFE-Environment project occur during the first third of the project's implementation.

The assessment of Go/NoGo is to be undertaken by the beneficiary themselves, and when preparing the Go/NoGo Progress Report, the beneficiary should reflect on the two questions above and 1) justify reasons for continuing if delays or other problems have been encountered; or 2) ask to terminate the project if they realise that the project will fail.

There is no standard format for a Go/NoGo Progress Report.

The report must describe the progress of the project in relation to what was foreseen in the approved proposal as in any progress report. The only difference with respect to other progress reports is that this description should lead to an assessment by the beneficiary on the viability of the project. This assessment should allow the Commission to make their own judgement.

It is ultimately the Commission who will evaluate the report, deciding whether the arguments of the beneficiary are convincing, and whether or not the project can continue.

This pattern has been found for LIFE-Environment projects only and therefore the Go/No Go Progress Report only applies to LIFE-Environment.

Guidelines for reporting: LIFE-Nature Projects

Progress report model

Technical interim/final report model

Guidelines for reporting: LIFE-Third Countries Projects (LIFE III)

Guidelines for preparing reports to the Commission

Nota bene: The guidelines for LIFE III projects will be updated in order to take into account the modifications in the latest version of the SAP/CP (Standard Agreement and Common Provisions 2005/2006). When preparing your report, you should always consult the relevant SAP/CP as annexed to your grant agreement.

Please note that the External Assistance Team mailing address (see part 2.2 of the Guidelines "Who to submit reports to") is no longer valid. For the updated details of the External Assistance Team please consult the CONTACT section.

Guidelines for reporting: LIFE-Third Countries Projects (LIFE II)

Guidelines for LIFE-Third Countries beneficiaries on the presentation and acceptability of payment requests

Six-monthly progress report

Interim report

Final report