25/11/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 25 November, the European Commission approved the mobilisation of €290 million to finance 132 new innovative projects as part of the LIFE programme, a financial instrument specifically dedicated to environmental, nature protection and climate action projects. The EU funding covers projects with a total value of €562 million, which will be implemented in 22 EU Member States and the UK. They will help Europe achieve climate neutrality by 2050, put biodiversity on the road to recovery by 2030, and achieve a ‘green’ recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the first set of projects that have been deemed eligible for EU co-financing under the 2021-2027 budget, which has increased the LIFE envelope by almost 60% (see EUROPE 12603/15). (AN)