Brussels, 19/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has given its go-ahead to funding for 183 new environmental and innovative nature conservation projects under the LIFE+ programme, eligible for EU co-funding of up to €244 million. LIFE+ is the European financial instrument for the environment with a budget of €2,143 million for the period 2007-2013. The announcement was made on Tuesday 19 July.
The projects worth a total of €530 million were selected from the 748 proposals put forward by public and private member state organisations, submitted to the Commission in response to a call for tenders. They cover the three sections of LIFE+ as follows:
LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity. Out of the 203 proposals received, 64 were from partnerships in 18 member states and represent total investment of €223 million, of which the EU will provide some €125 million. Of these, 55 are nature projects, contributing to the implementation of the Wild Birds Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and the Habitat Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC), and to the completion of the Natura 2000 pan-European network of protected natural sites. The nine others aim to safeguard biodiversity.
LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance. Out of the 399 proposals received, 104 have been selected. The winning projects, based in 18 member states, mostly concern waste and natural resources. They will receive EU funding of €109 million out of a total investment of €286 million.
LIFE+ Information and Communication. The 15 eligible projects (out of the 146 proposals received) come from various public and private sector nature and/or environment organisations in eight member states. They will receive funding of €10.1 million out of a total investment of €20.4 million. Seven projects are for raising public awareness of nature and biodiversity issues. The other eight are on other areas of the environment. (A.N./transl.jl)