16/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 16 March, the Council of the European Union endorsed the political agreement reached on 17 December 2020 between the European Parliament and the Council on the LIFE programme which will cover the period 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12637/23). The formal approval of the outcome of the inter-institutional negotiations was done by written procedure. In doing so, the Council adopted its first reading position on the only financing instrument specifically dedicated to the environment and climate in the 2021-2027 EU budget. With €5.432 billion, LIFE will fund projects in four areas: nature, biodiversity, climate action and clean energy. The floor is now open for the European Parliament to adopt the regulation at first reading (AN)