During a meeting of European environment ministers on Tuesday 21 October, a dozen EU Member States expressed their concern at the disappearance and dilution of the LIFE programme in the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
The Czech Republic was behind the addition of this ‘other’ item on the future of the environmental aspects of the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework to the day’s agenda.
According to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall, the European Commission has included “for the first time” a spending target covering the environment and climate. It will involve devoting at least 35% of the MFF to environmental issues across the board.
Several Member States expressed surprise at the Commission’s decision to scrap LIFE, a programme with “a solid track record [and] tangible results on the ground”, according to Luxembourg, whose importance and effectiveness they praised.
According to this dozen or so Member States, which include Lithuania, Hungary, Italy, France, Latvia and Cyprus, for example, it will be essential to preserve the independence of the LIFE programme through clear and separate funding for nature conservation.
In addition to being insufficient, according to some Member States, the 35% objective mixes climate and nature conservation, even though the implementation of the regulation on nature restoration alone will require special attention.
These Member States are calling for greater clarity in the allocation of environmental funds. A debate on the environmental aspects of the MFF will be held at the Environment Council in December. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)