European Commission inviting Proposals for Preparatory Projects (Third round)

Deadline: 4 November 2019

European Commission is inviting applicants for its 2019 Call for Proposals for Preparatory Projects (third round) under the LIFE sub-programmes for environment.

According to the LIFE Regulation, the preparatory projects are conceived “to support specific needs for the development and implementation of Union environmental or climate policy and legislation”.

What is LIFE?

LIFE is the European programme for the Environment and Climate Action, for the period from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020. The legal basis for LIFE is Regulation 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 20131.

The LIFE programme is structured in two sub-programmes: the sub-programme for Environment and the sub-programme for Climate Action.

What are the LIFE preparatory projects?

The Commission makes an inventory of specific needs regarding the development and implementation of Union environmental or climate policy and legislation that need to be addressed during the following years and identifies among them the needs that could be addressed by preparatory projects. Before launching the calls for proposals, Member States receive a draft list of the identified specific needs that could be addressed by preparatory projects and are asked to comment. Based on these comments, a final list of preparatory projects is established.

The preparatory projects targeted by this call for proposals are aimed at preparing the implementation of the LIFE programme post 2020 and in particular to ensure its smooth and quick start up to maximize its results. They could include three possible components:

The preparation of Strategic Nature Projects to be submitted in the years 2021-2022;
The mainstreaming of environment, climate, nature and biodiversity objectives into other policies, EU and non EU programmes and funds;
The networking with other authorities responsible of the implementation of the LIFE programme at national or regional level in the EU and with environmental and climate authorities of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

Funding Information

Financial contribution of the coordinating beneficiary, components in which it will participate:

Amount to be provided in Euro (€).
The amount indicated here must be identical with the amount indicated as corresponding to the beneficiary’s contribution in the financial forms FA and FB.
This amount must be greater than 0€ and cannot include any funding specifically obtained for the project from other public or private sources (this is co-financing).

Eligibility Criteria

Anyone registered in the EU can make a proposal for LIFE traditional, integrated, preparatory, and technical assistance projects under the sub-programmes for environment and climate action.
Applicants could be a:
- - public body operating under a national government’s authority, e.g. local authority, national administration etc.
  - private commercial organisation
  - private non-commercial organisation (NGOs etc.)
Be a non-profit making legal person;
Be independent, in particular from government, other public authorities, and from political or commercial interests;
Be primarily active in the field of environment and/or climate action and have an environmental/climate objective which is aimed at:
- - The public good,
  - Sustainable development,
  - The development, implementation and enforcement of European Union environmental and/or climate policy and legislation.
Be established (legally registered) in one of the European Union Member States;
Be operating at Union level with a structure and activities covering at least three European Union Member States.
If applicants are based outside the EU, applicants can contribute to a project as associated beneficiary by undertaking actions that are necessary for achieving the environmental or climate goals of the EU.