LIFE - the Financial Instrument for the Environment

Introduced in 1992, is one of the spearheads of the European Union's environmental policy. It co-finances projects in three areas:

LIFE-Nature works to conserve natural habitats and the wild fauna and flora of European Union interest, according to the Birds and Habitats directives, thus supporting implementation of the European Union's nature conservation policy and the Natura 2000 Network.

LIFE-Environment aims to implement Community policy and legislation on the environment in the European Union and candidate countries. This approach enables demonstration and development of new methods for the protection and the enhancement of the environment.

LIFE-Third Countries concerns technical assistance activities for promoting sustainable development in third countries. This component of the programme supports the development of environmental management capacities, both for our administrative partners outside the Union and for companies and NGOs in those countries.

LIFE is open to all EU countries, some candidate countries (currently Romania) and some third countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

LIFE Environmental Funding

LIFE-Environment does not finance research or investment in existing technologies or infrastructure. The purpose of the programme is to bridge the gap between research and development results and their large-scale application. To this end, demonstration projects based on the results of projects which have been supported under past or ongoing technological research and development programmes are encouraged.

The dissemination of results is essential for ensuring that innovative technologies and procedures for protecting the environment are widely applied. The European Union allocated approximately 300 million euros for LIFE-Environment for the period 2000-2004. The rate of Community co-financing can be up to 30% for projects generating substantial net revenue, 50% in other cases.