Transcript Slide 1

Commission proposal for a new
LIFE Regulation
(2014-2020)
Presentation to Directors Meeting DK
22 May 2012
Context: The LIFE instrument
•
The only EU financial instrument specifically
targeting the environment.
•
Since 1992, financed over 3100 projects
contributing to over €2.7 billion to the
protection of the environment.
Structure
• Creation of two sub-programmes:
• LIFE sub-programme for Environment
• LIFE sub-programme for Climate Action
Structure: the sub-programme for
Environment
• Biodiversity:
• Focused on Natura2000 (in particular Integrated
Projects to implement Prioritised Action
Frameworks);
• and the implementation of EU Biodiversity Strategy
2020;
• Best practice and demonstration for nature and
biodiversity
• 50% of resources allocated to biodiversity projects
under the sub-programme for Environment.
Structure: the sub-programme for
Environment
LIFE sub-programme for Environment: three priority
areas:
• Environment & Resource Efficiency:
• Development, testing and demonstration of
policy approaches, best practices and solutions to
environmental problems;
• Shift focus towards implementation through
Integrated Projects (waste, water, air);
• Includes a specific objective in relation to Resource
efficiency;
• Private sector oriented market-replication
excluded (to be covered under Horizon 2020).
Structure: the sub-programme for
Environment
• Environmental Governance & Information:
• Supports information and awareness raising
projects and activities and facilitates knowledge
sharing;
• Supports cooperation networks, and best practices
for enforcement and compliance;
• Promotes better governance and supports
environmental NGOs.
Integrated Project: what is it?
IP are larger projects that shall:
• Implement plans, programmes or strategies
required by EU environmental or climate legislation or
pursuant to other acts or developed by MS authorities;
• Have a Larger scale, e.g., regional, multiregional,
national;
• Be primarily in the areas of nature, water, waste, air,
climate mitigation and adaptation
• Involve, where appropriate, stakeholders (NGOs,
private sector, farmers, water companies,
transport companies, etc.)
• Promote, when possible, the coordination with and
mobilisation of other EU funds
Examples: IP - Nature
A Region develops a Regional Programme
for Natura2000 covering all 100 sites under its
jurisdiction
It identifies a range of management and
conservation activities.
The region then identifies the financial needs
for the implementation of these activities and
submits a proposal for a LIFE Integrated
Project.
This project clearly specifies the activities or
group of activities among those included in the
programme that will be financed by LIFE
•
e.g. the restoration and connectivity activities,
capacity building, awareness raising.
In addition, it may present evidence on how it
will use other funds (EARDF, ERDF, private) to
implement the complementary measures
•
compensation payments, correction of power
lines, infrastructure etc.
Ensuring success of Integrated Projects
• At EU level:
• Ensure better link and coordination with other EU Funds
- Common Strategic Framework
• Simplify selection process for IP: the 2-step approach
• Simplify reporting obligations for IP
• Active dissemination of examples and good practices by
LIFE and in the specific working groups and committees for
the sectors concerned
• Technical assistance for MS facing problems to prepare
an IP
• For Natura2000: LIFE+ is already financing Prioritised
Action Frameworks (PAFs) that will serve as a basis for IP.
Multi Annual Work Programmes
• Shift from a pure bottom-up approach to a flexible top-down
approach;
• Prepared by the Commission in consultation with the MS.
• These will cover e.g., priorities, allocation of resources between
interventions, and targets for the period – not exhaustive. Closer
links to EU policy priorities and possibility to create critical
mass in specific areas.
• They set priorities for at least 2 years ensuring stability for
potential applicants.
• Priorities are not exhaustive: a proposal may be submitted if it
falls within the priority areas included in the Regulation.
• Limitation: Integrated Projects primarily in areas referred to by
the Regulation.
Territorial Scope
Possible participation of Third Countries (as per current
LIFE+).
Possible co-operation with International Organisations
(e.g., international studies such as TEEB).
Activities outside the Union possible in exceptional cases:
• Action outside the EU is indispensable to achieve EU
environmental/climate objectives; or
• To ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the
MS; and
• The coordinating beneficiary is based in the EU.
Simplification and complementarity
Impact of permament staff not eligible
• To compensate
for the loss of these
categories, there is
an increase in the
co-financing rate
(from 50 to 70% to 80% for IPs).
80%
70%
69%
65%
61%
60%
50%
Gain
37%
40%
Neutral
30%
20%
Loose
28%
16% 15%
8%
10%
2%
0%
worst
scenario all
at 70%
best
scenario all
at 80%
scenario
2014-2020
Impact of permanent staff not eligible - n° projects
loosing/type beneficiary
35
30
25
n° projects
• Most problematic
categories of cost
for beneficiaries to
be considered
ineligible (VAT,
permanent staff
costs).
at 70%
20
at 80%
15
10
5
0
se
Re
ch
ar
e
niv
/U
ity
rs
SM
E
O
NG
Lo
la
ca
h
ut
itie
or
t
Na
s
ion
a
al
h
ut
itie
or
s
Ot
r
he
A budget for achieving LIFE objectives
• €3.6 billion for 20142020 (only 0.3% of EU
budget):
160
600
140
557,20
120
100
400
390,20
80
300
60
200
• The budget has been
calculated in a bottom-up
manner as the minimum
to achieve objectives and
targets.
100
40
151
120
8
119
24
29
0
20
0
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Years
Trad n. projects
IP n. projects
IP
Trad
Total LIFE
n. projects
700
500
€ million
• €2.7 billion for the subprogramme for
Environment.
• €0.9 billion for the subprogramme for Climate
Action
Progression LIFE Budget and type of projects
(2014-2020)
National allocations 2007-2010: did they work?
DE
ES
IT
FR
UK
PL
RO
SE
FI
GR
NL
PT
HU
DK
SI
BG
BE
CZ
AT
EE
IE
SK
LT
LV
National allocation used
MT
National allocation not used
LU
National allocation exceeded
CY
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
M illions
Thank you for your attention
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm