APRIL 7, 2017 LIFE has published a new Focus brochure on one of the greatest environmental, social and economic challenges of the next 30 years – the transition to a circular economy. In his foreword to the brochure, Karmenu Vella, the European Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, sets out the challenge ahead: “Europe needs to move

APRIL 4, 2017 Your company is working on a solution that benefits the climate or the environment? Check the EU’s LIFE programme: You might be eligible to receive up to 60% co-financing. The European Commission will launch a new call for proposals under the LIFE programme on 28 April, with application deadlines in September 2017. Nearly €260 million in funding will be available for environment and climate projects (“traditional projects”).

FEBRUARY 23, 2017 Improvements are needed in the management, financing and monitoring of Natura 2000, the EU’s flagship biodiversity programme, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. While recognising that Natura 2000 plays an important role in protecting biodiversity, the auditors found shortcomings in management and a lack of reliable information on costs and financing. Funding was not sufficiently tailored to the needs of environmental sites.

FEBRUARY 20, 2017 Integrated projects LIFE (LIFE IP) refer to projects implementing on a large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national scale) environmental/climate action plans, strategies or roadmaps required by specific Union environmental/climate legislation, developed pursuant to other Union acts or developed by Member States’ authorities. These type of projects need to involve all relevant stakeholders and promote the coordination with and mobilization of at least one other relevant Union, national or private funding source.

FEBRUARY 13, 2017 The LIFE Call 2017  is planned to be published on the 28 April 2017. Please find below an indicative timetable for the call:

FEBRUARY 9, 2017 The evaluation of LIFE proposals (Call 2016) is progressing. The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) foresees the following indicative dates for the next steps:

JANUARY 24, 2017 LIFE Preparatory projects to support deployment of European Solidarity Corps (subprogramme for Environment) contribute to strengthening the Union’s capacity to provide volunteering services for young people across the European Union. It focuses mainly on conservation of Natura 2000 sites, environmental protection, restoration of natural areas and ecosystems and on capacity building among ongoing LIFE projects. The call for application to the LIFE Preparatory Projects for the European Solidarity Corps was published on 07 December 2016 and the deadline is 07 March 2017 at 17:00 Greece local time.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 Greek LIFE Task Force members Katerina Koutsovoulou and Spyridoula Ntemiri participated in the workshop organized by the ‘Capacity Building for Croatia’s NCP for the LIFE Programme’ project. The workshop took place in Zagreb on the 8th and 9th of December with the participation of 28 LIFE NCPs representatives from 11 countries.

NOVEMBER 28, 2016 The workshop of 17 EU countries for the LIFE Capacity Building Programme was held on November 22nd and 23rd, in Budapest, at the Ministry of Agriculture. Specifically, Germany, France and Italy presented experiences of best practices in LIFE, while 14 countries-beneficiaries of Capacity Building projects presented the evolution of their actions. Greece was represented by the Communication and the Environmental Officers of the Greek LIFE Task Force, Kellie Koligiorga and Dimitris Homatidis.

 NOVEMBER 16, 2016 The environment officer, member of the LIFE Task Force Mr. Dimitris Homatidis attended the International Conference for Circular Economy, Territorial Cohesion and Insularity, which was organized in Heraklion by the Region of Crete, with the support of the European Commission’s Environment Directorate, on Monday, November 14, 2016.

NOVEMBER 16, 2016 The annual Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC takes place this year in Marrakech, Morocco from 7th to 18th November. In the conference, nations of the world continue their work on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change. To this objective, central focus is placed on enhancing ambition, promoting implementation and providing support. The Marrakech COP 22 marks a landmark, as it is the first time that a Conference of the Parties serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA), since the latter has entered into force on the 4th of November

NOVEMBER 4, 2016 A LIFE-line for 144 innovative projects investing for a better environment and climate action. The European Commission has approved an investment package of €222.7 million from the EU budget to support Europe’s transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future. The EU funding will spur additional investments leading to a total of €398.6 million to be invested into 144 new projects in 23 Member States.   The support comes from the LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action. €323.5 million will go to projects in the field of environment and resource efficiency, nature and biodiversity and

OCTOBER 18, 2016 15 proposals were approved for co-funding by the European Commission under the LIFE Programme 2015 for Greece. Specifically, 5 proposals had a Greek coordinator and 10 proposals had been submitted with domestic partners. The total EU co-funding for Greek partners was € 7,551,126.00. The file below shows in detail the proposals’ results.

 SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 The submission process of applications, concerning traditional LIFE projects for 2016 has been successfully completed. Specifically, 91 applications have been submitted with domestic partners, of which 53 had a Greek coordinator. The table below shows the number of proposals/sub-programme. The team of Greek LIFE Task Force wishes participants good luck!