Brussels, 02/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last Friday, the European Commission announced having selected 109 new environmental demonstration projects for co-funding in the context of the Life-Environment programme. Co-funding of these projects aims at diffusing the knowledge that is necessary for the development and implementation of environmental legislation in the EU and in candidate countries that are taking part in the programme (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Romania and Slovenia). These projects will mainly allow new methods to be set in place for the protection and improvement of the environment. The projects selected this year represent total investment of around EUR 213 million, including 69 million to be provided by Life-Environment.
Sustainable management of water resources is the key theme in proportional terms for selected projects (30 out of 109) and Community aid attributed (EUR 20.4 million, i.e. 29% of the total). Twenty-five projects concern reducing the impact of economic activity (Community financing: EUR 15.7 million) and cover clean technologies, integrated environmental management (environmental management and audit system - SMEA - and others), viable tourism and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Twenty-three projects, financed up to 15.7 million, deal with prevention, recycling and the re-use of waste, mainly packaging and plastic matter, and dangerous waste, which is cumbersome and awkward. Twenty-two projects co-funded for the sum of EUR 13.5 million concern greater account being taken of environmental concerns in urban areas, the management of coastal areas and other areas of development and spatial planning, and mainly aim at improving air quality and noise reduction. Finally, EUR 4.4 million have been attributed to 9 projects concerning the promotion of an integrated products policy based on eco-labelling and design and "green" financial products. Out of the 109 projects selected, over half have public institutions or authorities as partners and main beneficiaries. Then come private bodies (43%), SMEs and NGOs.