16/04/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 16 April, MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment (ENVI) endorsed the political agreement reached on 17 December between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the regulation establishing the LIFE programme. This is the only financial instrument specifically dedicated to tackling the environment and climate action in the EU’s 2021–2027 budget. The text resulting from the inter-institutional negotiations was passed by a large majority (69 votes for, 7 against and 4 abstentions). Equipped with €5.432 billion, LIFE will fund projects in four areas: nature; biodiversity; climate action; clean energy. The European Parliament must now vote in plenary session before the regulation can be adopted. The new LIFE Regulation will repeal EU Regulation 1293/2013. (AN)