The European Commission will propose Kyiv’s participation in the LIFE programme, the EU’s financial instrument specifically dedicated to environmental, nature protection and climate action projects, the institution announced on Thursday 31 March.
By participating in the LIFE programme, Ukraine will be able to benefit from EU funding to help restore its environment after the destruction caused by the Russian invasion, be it pollution, destruction of ecosystems or other long-term effects, the European Commission stresses.
The decision to open negotiations to offer this possibility to Ukraine was conveyed by Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius to Ukrainian Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets on the same day.
For the 2021-2027 period, LIFE is open to the participation of certain third countries, such as members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) who are members of the European Economic Area, candidate countries and neighbourhood countries (see EUROPE 12603/15). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)