Since 1992, the LIFE program of the European Union represents a point of reference for the financing of projects aimed at protect the environment it's at fight climate change.
The European Commission announced, on 18 April 2024, the availability of new funds for 2024 in the context of the LIFE Program 2021-2027, divided into four subprograms dedicated to different thematic areas:
- nature and biodiversity – NAT
- Circular economy and Quality of Life – ENV
- mitigation and adaptation to climate change – CLIMATE
- transition to clean energy – CET
This is why the LIFE Call for proposals 2024 was launched, i.e. the invitation to submit proposals for the different types of eligible (and related) projects Topics) within the subprogrammes. Let's see in detail how much the available fundswhat are the financeable projects And who can submit proposals.
The funds available for 2024
For this year, the available budget is 571 million eurosallocated to subsidize projects in the fields of nature and biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, climate action and the transition to clean energy.
LIFE programme: financeable projects
Below is an overview of categories of financeable projects and gods amounts allocated:
- nature and biodiversity: 155 million euros;
- circular economy and quality of life: 65 million euros;
- mitigation and adaptation to climate change: 61.98 million euros;
- transition to clean energy: 4 million euros;
- New European Bauhaus: 8 million euros;
- environmental governance: 10 million euros;
- transition to clean energy: 77 million euros;
- Strategic Nature Protection Projects (SNAP) and Integrated Strategic Projects (SIP): 150 million euros;
- Technical Assistance (TA) Projects for the preparation of SIP and SNAP (TA-PP), for Replication (TA-R) or for Capacity Building (TA-CAP), and Projects to address ad hoc Political and Legislative Priorities ( PLP): 26 million euros;
- Specific Grant Agreements for Operating Grants (SGA OG) in favor of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): 14 million euros.
Who can submit proposals?
LIFE Program calls are open to legally recognized entities in EU Member States, Overseas Countries or Territories, or associated third countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Iceland and North Macedonia.
Eligible subjects include: public and private organizations, businesses of various sizes, academic institutions And NGO.
They can not submit proposals under the LIFE 2021-2027 calls natural persons.
By when to submit proposals?
A summary table with all the deadlines:
| PROJECTS LIFE | OPENING CALLS | CLOSING CALLS |
| Standard Action Projects (SAP) of the LIFE NAT, ENV and CET Subprogrammes | April 18, 2024 | September 19, 2024 |
| SAP projects of the LIFE CLIMA Subprogramme | April 18, 2024 | September 17, 2024 |
| Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) of the LIFE CET Subprogramme | April 18, 2024 | September 19, 2024 |
| Strategic Nature Protection Projects (SNAP) and Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP) | April 18, 2024 | First Phase (Concept notes): 5 September 2024 Second phase (Full proposal): March 6, 2025 |
| Technical Assistance Projects for the Preparation of SNAP and SIP Projects (TA-PP) | April 18, 2024 | September 19, 2024 |
| Technical Assistance Projects for the Replication of the Results of Other Projects (TA-R) | April 18, 2024 | September 19, 2024 |
| Preparatory Projects – to address Legislative and Policy Priorities ad hoc (PLP) | April 18, 2024 | September 19, 2024 |
