LIFE+ CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2008

(2008/C 178/20)

The Commission invites entities registered in the European Union to present proposals for the LIFE+ call for proposals 2008.

Applications

Proposals must be written on specific application forms. These forms and the application guide that includes detailed explanations in regard to eligibility and procedures can be obtained from the Commission's website on the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Proposals must be submitted on CD-ROM or DVD in an electronic PDF format that is based on a scan of the original printed A4 format paper forms.

Beneficiaries

Proposals must be presented by entities registered in the Member States of the European Union being public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions.

The following themes are covered by this announcement

1.   LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity

Principal objective: To protect, conserve, restore, monitor and facilitate the functioning of natural systems, natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity, including diversity of genetic resources, within the EU by 2010.

2.   LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

Principal objectives:

—   Climate change: To stabilise greenhouse gas concentration at a level that prevents global warming above 2 °C.

—   Water: To contribute to enhanced water quality by developing cost-effective measures to achieve good ecological status in view of developing the first river basin management plan under Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Water Framework Directive) by 2009.

—   Air: To achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment.

—   Soil: To protect and to ensure the sustainable use of soil by preserving soil functions, preventing threats to soil, mitigating their effects and restoring degraded soils.

—   Urban environment: To contribute to improving the environmental performance of Europe's urban areas.

—   Noise: To contribute to policy development and implementation on environmental noise.

—   Chemicals: To improve the protection of environment and health from risks posed by chemicals by 2020 by implementing chemicals legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (REACH) and the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides.

—   Environment and health: To develop the information base for policy on the environment and health (the Environment and Health Action Plan for 2004 to 2010).

—   Natural resources and waste: To develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste, and to improve the environmental performances of products, sustainable production and consumption patterns, waste prevention, recovery and recycling; to contribute to the effective implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste.

—   Forests: To provide, especially through an EU coordination network, a concise and comprehensive basis for policy relevant information on forests in relation to climate change (impact on forest ecosystems, mitigation, substitution effects), biodiversity (baseline information and protected forest areas), forest fires, forest conditions and the protective functions of forests (water, soil and infrastructure) as well as contributing to the protection of forests against fires.

—   Innovation: To contribute to developing and demonstrating innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments to assist in the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP).

—   Strategic approaches: To promote the effective implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and improve the knowledge base for environmental policy; to improve the environmental performance of SMEs.

Whilst any project proposal dealing with the above-mentioned principal objectives is welcome, the Commission would favour those dealing with climate change.

3.   LIFE+ Information and Communication

Principal objective: To disseminate information and raise awareness on environmental issues, including forest fire prevention; and to provide support for accompanying measures, such as information, communication actions and campaigns, conferences and training, including training on forest fire prevention.

Whilst any project proposal dealing with the above-mentioned principal objective is welcome, the Commission would favour those dealing with halting the loss of biodiversity.

EU Cofinancing rates

1.   LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects

2.   LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

3.   LIFE+ Information and Communication

Deadline

Project proposals shall be submitted to the national competent authorities by 21 November 2008. Project proposals shall be forwarded to the national authority of the Member State in which the beneficiary is registered. Proposals will then be submitted by the national authorities to the Commission by 5 January 2009.

Budget involved

The overall budget for project action grants under LIFE+ in 2008 is EUR 207 500 000.

At least 50 % of this amount shall be allocated to measures to support the conservation of nature and biodiversity.

The indicative national financial allocations for 2008 are as follows:

More information

More information including the application guidelines and application forms can be found on the LIFE website:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

It is also possible to contact the relevant national authorities:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/contact/nationalcontact/index.htm