LIFE

The LIFE Programme is aimed at restoring and improving the quality of environmental components, including air, water and soil, as well as preserving biodiversity and overcoming the degradation of natural ecosystems.

The environment strand has two sub-programmes:

• Nature and Biodiversity;
• Circular Economy and Quality of Life.

The climate action strand also has two sub-programmes:

• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
• Clean Energy Transition.

List of priority topics (2025-2027)

List of priority topics (2021-2024)

The financial envelope for the implementation of the LIFE Programme for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 shall be EUR 5 432 000 000 in current prices.

The indicative distribution of the amount:

EUR 3 488 000 000 for the field «Environment»:

• EUR 2 143 000 000 for the subprogramme «Nature and Biodiversity»;
• EUR 1 345 000 000 for the subprogramme мCircular Economy and Quality of Life».

EUR 1 944 000 000 for the field «Climate Action»:

• EUR 947 000 000 for the subprogramme «Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation»;
• EUR 997 000 000 for the subprogramme «Clean Energy Transition».

Source: LIFE Regulation (EU) 2021/783

LIFE will publish Multi-Annual Work Programmes (MAWP).

These will include details on:

• the sub-programmes;
• funding allocation;
• types of projects and co-financing rates;
• submission and selection procedures, including award criteria;
• Calls for Proposals timelines.

2021-24 work programme for the implementation of the LIFE programme (Commission implementing Decisions C(2021)4997, C(2023)939) and C(2024)4547

2025-27 work programme for the implementation of the LIFE programme (Commission implementing Decision C(2025)955)

All LIFE calls for proposals are published:

• on the website of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), as well as in the LIFE programme section;
• on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

LIFE Calls for proposals 2025

LIFE Calls for proposals 2024

2023 calls for proposals

2022 calls for proposals

2021 calls for proposals

SAP (Standard Action Projects) – projects of standard actions

The projects are aimed at:

• development, demonstration and promotion of innovative technical solutions, methods and approaches;
• creation of a knowledge base and application of best practices;
• maintaining the development, implementation, monitoring and compliance with relevant EU legislation and policy;
• implementation of successful technical and policy-related solutions for the implementation and adaptation of relevant EU legislation and policies.

Grant size: from €0.7 to €6 million.

Co-financing: up to 60% of the total costs of the project.

Implementation period: 3-5 years (maximum 10 years).

SNAP (Strategic Nature Projects) – strategic nature projects

The projects are aimed at:

• supporting the achievement of the EU's goals for nature protection and biodiversity;
• implementation of strategies, directives, plans adopted at international, national, regional or interregional levels by nature and biodiversity protection bodies;
• inclusion of relevant nature and biodiversity conservation objectives in other policies and funding programs.

Co-financing: up to 60% of the total costs of the project.

Implementation period: 6-10 years (maximum 14 years).

SIP (Strategic Integrated Projects) – strategic integrated projects

The projects are aimed at supporting the implementation of environmental and climate strategies or action plans on a national and regional scale.

Circular economy and quality of life projects:

• circular economy: national or regional action plans, strategies, road maps, etc.;
• waste management plans and waste prevention programs;
• river basin management plans; flood risk management plans; implementation of maritime strategy;
• air quality plans according to ambient air quality.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation projects:

• national energy and climate plans;
• national energy efficiency action plans;
• national or regional adaptation strategies or action plans;
• action plans in cities or communities, the transition to a climate-neutral and/or climate-resilient society;
• national, regional or sectoral strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or economic roadmaps promoting climate neutrality.

The size of the grant: from €10 to €20 million.

Co-financing: up to 60% of the total costs of the project.

Implementation period: 6-10 years (maximum 14 years).

TA-PP (Technical Assistance Projects) – technical assistance projects

The specified projects support the development of capacity for participation in SAP projects, preparation of SNAP and SIP projects, preparation for access to other EU financial instruments or other measures necessary to increase or replicate the results of other projects financed by the LIFE Program, predecessor programs or other EU programs , in order to achieve the goals of the LIFE Program. Such projects can also be aimed at building the potential related to the activities of the authorities of the member states for effective participation in the LIFE Program.

Co-financing: up to 60% of the total costs of the project.

OA - CSA (LIFE Other Action Grants) - other actions

These projects are aimed at the "Transition to clean energy" through a comprehensive restructuring of all sectors of the economy with the aim of ending the use of fossil fuels and a full transition to carbon-free technologies and frugal energy consumption, and are focused on overcoming market barriers to the transition to clean energy.

The implementation of such projects involves the involvement of many interested parties and transnational consortia (minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, which are entitled to most of the funding streams).

Co-financing: up to 95% of the total costs of the project.

Applicants (participants) of projects can be legal entities of any form of ownership (self-government bodies, central and territorial OVV, institutions of state, communal or private ownership, profitable or non-profit, public organizations) registered in one of the eligible countries:

• EU member states (including overseas countries and territories);
• non-EU countries: countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and countries associated with the LIFE Programme, or countries that are negotiating an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before the signing of the grant (participating countries of the LIFE Programme).

Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the LIFE Programme may exceptionally eligible to participate.

Natural persons are not eligible to apply.

Information on applicant support is presented on the LIFE - Support for applicants website of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

Applications can only be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Instructions on the application process, evaluation and signature of the grant agreement, grant management, and working as an expert are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in the step-by-step Online Manual (2021-2027).

A project application can be submitted by a single applicant or by a consortium of participants (in certain types of projects, the application from a consortium of a certain number of participants, sometimes from different EU countries and countries associated with the LIFE Programme, is a requirement).

Partners in project implementation can be:

• central and territorial bodies of executive power;
• state enterprises;
• private enterprises and institutions;
• public organizations and associations;
• international organizations.

Information on finding partners can be found on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in the step-by-step Online Manual (2021-2027).

Search options include:

• the Partner Search function on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal;
• other partner search tools and services, such as: National Contact Points (NCPs) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN);
• participation in conferences, brokerage events organised by the EU or by networks in the Member States (NCPs or Desks, Enterprise Europe Network, etc.).

The LIFE Programme appoints external experts to assist in the evaluation of grant applications, projects and tenders.

Potential Expert evaluators for the purpose of evaluating proposals submitted under the LIFE sub-programmes:

«Nature and Biodiversity», «Circular economy and quality of life», «Climate change mitigation and adaptation» may register with the external Framework Contractor;

«Clean Energy Transition» may register in the European Commission’s database of independent experts.