- Sector
- Public
- Level of governance
- EU
- Country
- AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenNorwayIcelandMoldovaNorth MacedoniaUkraine
- Lighthouse
- Atlantic and Arctic basinMediterranean Sea basinBaltic and North Sea basinDanube River basin
- Funding mechanisms
- Grants
- Managing institutions
- European CommissionEuropean Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
- Mission Objectives
- 1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity2. Pollution prevention and elimination3. Carbon Neutral and Circular Blue Economy
Description of the funding initiative
The EU LIFE Programme provides funding for the support of Environment, Nature Conservation and Climate Action projects throughout the European Union (EU). Every year a call for proposals is launched, and following competitive selection, awards are made that are typically in the range of €1 million to €5 million for projects with durations of three to five years.
The programme has four subprogrammes: Nature and Biodiversity, Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Clean Energy Transition. Among others, the EU LIFE Programme supports projects protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment and Europe’s nature, reversing biodiversity loss and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Overview of eligibility requirements for applicants
Eligible applicants must be legal entities registered in the EU or an overseas country or territory linked to it, or a legal entity created under Union law or any international organisation. Legal entities include companies, public authorities (e.g. local government), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Higher Education Institutions and community groups.
Legal entities established in a third country not associated to the LIFE Programme may be eligible to participate where this is necessary for the achievement of the objectives. However, those legal entities shall in principle bear the cost of their participation.
Natural persons are not eligible.
Eligibility may vary between each specific funding call.
Rules on co-financing
Maximum EU co-financing rates for most projects is 60 %. Nature and Biodiversity subprogramme projects fulfilling specific conditions can be co-financed up to 75 %.
Procedures to submit proposal
View and apply for open calls at:
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/life-calls-proposals_en
and/or
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/p…
Relevant websites
Contact points
Find your national contact point (NCP) in this web portal or on the portal for the LIFE programme: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/history-life/life-contacts/e…;
Your NCP can help with applications and organises information/networking events and proposal writing workshops. They can also assist with communicating and disseminating your project results.
Other enquiries: cinea-life-enquiries@ec.europa.eu
