06-10-2006

The 2006 LIFE-Environment projects will be implemented in 14 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The €66 million from LIFE will contribute to a total investment of €215 million.

Demonstration projects addressing the environmental impact of economic activities (15) take the largest share of EU funding (some €24 million, or 36 percent of the total EU funding). Water management is the second most popular theme with 15 projects sharing €18.5 million, or 28 percent of the total. A further 14 projects deal with waste management, sharing almost €15 million (i.e, 23 percent of the total). Three projects address the reduction of the environmental impact of products and services (just over €5 million, or 8 percent of the total EU funding). Finally, three projects cover land-use development and planning, sharing over €3 million (5 percent of the EU funding available).

In addition, €7.2 million will be used to co-finance 3 LIFE Environment 'preparatory' projects. These aim to provide direct input to European policy development in separate thematic areas: air pollution, an EU Environmental Technologies Verification Scheme (EU ETV), and the safe disposal of surplus mercury.

The 2006 LIFE-Nature projects will take place in 20 countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom).

Many of the newly selected projects are aimed at improving the living conditions for a range of particularly threatened wildlife species. For example, the critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the endangered European Bison (Bison bonasus). A range of threatened bird species are also targeted including the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and Fea's Petrel (Pterodroma feae). Targeted plant species include the endemic "Rouen" violet (Viola hispida) and the long-lasting pink (Dianthus diutinus). Habitats that will be managed with LIFE co-funding include: freshwater habitats, heathlands and grasslands, raised bogs and mires, vulnerable forest habitats and marine/coastal and dune habitats.

All projects contribute to the implementation of the EU Birds Directive and/or Habitats Directive. Many projects will include new schemes and ideas for involving EU citizens in Natura 2000 sites. These will help more people to become actively involved in the management of Natura 200 sites and to become more knowledgeable of their nature protection aims.

The 2006 LIFE-TCY projects will be implemented in a variety of countries of the Mediterranean and Balkan regions, and in Russia. The full list of countries where projects will take place is: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Russia, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

LIFE-TCY funding for these projects amounts to €6.5 million. The project objectives are to improve the environment and achieve sustainable development by contributing to the creation or strengthening of the relevant institutions, policies, monitoring tools, training facilities, networks, and databases. Projects will address issues from waste management and air pollution prevention and control, to river basin management and sustainable tourism. Some projects promote harmonisation with EU environmental regulations or co-operation at regional or trans-national level.

The projects selected following the 2006 call for proposals are the last to be funded under the current phase of the LIFE programme – LIFE III. In 2007, a new phase of the LIFE programme will be introduced, LIFE+.

The current environment and nature components of LIFE will continue under LIFE+ and a new strand focusing on information and communication will be added. LIFE+ will focus in particular on combating climate change and the decline in Europe's biodiversity, promoting health and quality of life, and the sustainable management of waste and natural resources.