LIFE Programme

Last modified: 18. September 2024

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LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The 2023 LIFE calls are open!

Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme

The Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme will aim at the protection and restoration of Europe’s nature and halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Thus, the LIFE Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme will continue to fund nature conservation projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species. It will support projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU BirdsEN••• and HabitatsEN••• directives, and in particular the development and management of the Natura 2000 networkEN•••, and the IAS RegulationEN•••, and will support achieving the objectives of the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030EN•••, part of the EU Green DealEN•••.

LIFE Programme and Natura 2000 - Funding nature conservation in the European Union

Call for proposals

All LIFE calls for proposals are published on CINEA's websiteEN••• as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders portal.

Proposals can only be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders portal.

Information including the legislation and rules for participation, templates for proposals, evaluations and project reporting can be accessed on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Circular economy and quality of life sub-programme

The Circular economy and quality of life sub-programme aims at facilitating the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy and at protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment, either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of those objectives in other policies.

Thus, LIFE will continue to co-finance projects in the environmental sector, in particular in the area of the circular economy, including recovery of resources from waste, water, air, noise, soil and chemical management as well as environmental governance. The sub-programme provides mostly action grants for projects implementing innovative and best practice solutions in these areas through the so-called Standard Action Projects (SAP). It also covers the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU environmental policy and law through the so-called Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs). The European Commission will continue to look for solutions that are ready to be implemented in close-to-marketEN••• conditions, at industrial or commercial scale, during the project duration.
Call for proposals

All LIFE calls for proposals are published on CINEA's websiteEN••• as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders portal.

Proposals can only be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders portal.

Information including the legislation and rules for participation, templates for proposals, evaluations and project reporting can be accessed on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme

The Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme will contribute to the shift towards a sustainable, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and resilient economy, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Climate change mitigation

The climate sub-programme supports projects in the areas of farming, land use, peatland management, renewable energies and energy efficiency.

It provides support for pilot, demonstration and best practice projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the implementation and development of EU policy and legislation, best practices and solutions.

The sub-programme also promotes integrated approaches, to implement climate change mitigation strategies and action plans at regional or national level.
Climate change adaptation

The LIFE programme co-finances projects in the areas of urban adaptation and land-use planning, resilience of infrastructure, sustainable management of water in drought-prone areas, flood and coastal management, resilience of the agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors, and/or support to the EU's outermost regions: preparedness for extreme weather events, notably in coastal areas.

It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to increase resilience to climate change.

The climate sub-programme also promotes Integrated projects that implement EU policy and strategy on climate change adaptation.
Climate governance and information

The programme co-funds projects supporting the operation of the European Climate Pact, sustainable finance activities, awareness raising, training and capacity building, knowledge development and stakeholder participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation areas.

LIFE provides action grants for information, awareness and dissemination projects on climate matters. This includes public and stakeholder support for EU policy-making, supporting communication, management and dissemination of information to facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation platforms, providing training and fostering the development and dissemination of best practices and policy approaches.
Call for proposals

All LIFE calls for proposals will be published on CINEA's websiteEN••• as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders portal.

Proposals can only be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders portal.

Information including the legislation and rules for participation, templates for proposals, evaluations and project reporting can be accessed on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme

Building on the success of the Intelligent Energy Europe (2003-2013) and Horizon 2020 Energy Efficiency (2014-2020) programmes, the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme continues to support the delivery of EU policies in the field of sustainable energy, in particular, the European Green Deal, the Energy Union (2030 energy and climate targets) and the European Union’s 2050 long-term decarbonisation strategy.

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme has a budget of nearly EUR 1 billion over the period of 2021-2027 and aims at facilitating the transition towards an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy by funding coordination and support actions (Other Action Grants) across Europe. These are actions of high EU added-value, which are targeted at breaking market barriers that hamper the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy, and typically engage multiple small and medium-sized stakeholders, multiple actors including local and regional public authorities and non-profit organisations, as well as consumers.

Projects are co-financed under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme in the following five areas of intervention:

•     Building a national, regional and local policy framework supporting the clean energy transition;
•     Accelerating technology roll-out, digitalisation, new services and business models and enhancement of the related professional skills on the market;
•     Attracting private finance for sustainable energy;
•     Supporting the development of local and regional investment projects;
•     Involving and empowering citizens in the clean energy transition.

Call for proposals

All LIFE calls for proposals, including LIFE Clean energy transition, are published on CINEA's websiteEN••• as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders portal.

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition Call 2023 (2023 Call documentEN•••) has EUR 99 million available for 13 funding topics to support the clean energy transition in Europe in areas such as:

    Technical support to clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions EN•••
    Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy EN•••
    Maximizing use of and valorising EPREL data through innovative applicationsEN•••
    Energy Performance of Buildings - Creating the conditions to make renovation faster, deeper, smarter, service and data-drivenEN•••
    Supporting the clean energy transition of the European businessesEN•••
    BUILD UP Skills – Upskilling and reskilling interventions enabling a decarbonised building stock and energy system integrationEN•••
    Boosting heat pump deployment through alternative models and skilled installersEN•••
    District heating and cooling: Enabling modernisation and fuel switch through support for investment plans and skills developmentEN•••
    Crowding in private financeEN•••
    Integrated services for clean energy transition in buildings and businessesEN•••
    Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investmentsEN•••
    Alleviating household energy poverty and vulnerability in EuropeEN•••
    European Energy Communities FacilityEN•••

Proposals can only be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders portal.

Information including the legislation and rules for participation, templates for proposals, evaluations, and project reporting can be accessed on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Support for applicants

Guidance on the application process, evaluation and grant signature, grant management, and working as an expert are available on the Funding & Tender portal.

On 1 June 2023, CINEA organised a special information session on the call for LIFE 2023 Clean energy transition.

Plenary presentations:

    AgendaEN••• (Introduction)
    Policy updateEN••• (Pierluca MEROLA)
    Introduction to LIFE Clean Energy TransitionEN••• (Anette JAHN)
    How to make an excellent proposal?EN••• (Zoe WILDIERS - Ulrike NUSCHELER)
    LIFE CET: Financial elementEN••• (Licinia PEREIRA)

Clean Energy Transition 2023 Info Day and Plenary videos:

    Playlist - LIFE 2023 Clean Energy Transition #EULife23 INFO DAYS
    Plenary video

The videos and presentations for the 13 funding topics are available via the topic links under the call for proposals section above
LIFE Calls for proposals 2023

The LIFE Call for Proposals 2023 has been published. You will find the complete information in the Funding & tender opportunities portal.

On the EU info daysEN••• page, all presentations and recordings from the event, which took place on 25 and 26 April 2023 are available.

A dedicated virtual information session on the specificities of the calls for Clean energy transition EN••• took place on 1 June 2023.
Opening and submission dates

    5 September 2023

Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs)

        Concept notes: Opening: 18 April – Closing: 5 September 2023

Full proposals:  Closing: 5 March 2024

    6 September 2023

Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for circular economy and Quality of Life

Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for nature and biodiversity

Opening: 18 April – Closing: 6 September 2023

    7 September 2023

Technical Assistance Replication

Opening: 18 April – Closing: 7 September 2023

    7 September 2023

LIFE Projects for addressing ad hoc Legislative and Policy Priorities (PLP)

Opening: 18 April – Closing: 7 September 2023

    7 September 2023

Technical Assistance preparation for SIPs and SNAPs:

Opening: 2 May  – Closing: 7 September 2023

    21 September 2023

Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGA OG), on invitation only to LIFE FPA signatories

Opening: 18 April – Closing: 21 September 2023

    21 September 2023

Standard Action Projects (SAPs) climate change mitigation and adaptation sub-programme

Opening: 18 April – Closing: 21 September 2023

    16 November 2023

LIFE Action Grants for clean energy transition sub-programme

Opening: 11 May – Closing: 16 November 2023

    5 March 2024

Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs)

Full proposals:  Closing: 5 March 2024

Concept notes: Opening: 18 April – Closing: 5 September 2023
How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the Funding & tender opportunities portal.

Additional guidance is available on how to submit a proposal using the application tool:  Funding & Tenders Portal for beginners

This video tutorial features the steps to register your organisation and to get prepared for submitting a proposal.

You find other useful information on the F&T opportunities portal such as an Online Manual guiding you through all steps of the application process.  

To help you with providing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in your application in the Funding & tender opportunities portal you can find here a list of LIFE KPIs applicable to different callsEN••• and watch the relevant KPI video presentation.
Info Days

Find on the EU info daysEN••• all presentations and recordings from the event, which took place on 25 an 26 April 2023, to guide potential applicants through the LIFE programme, the Calls for proposalsEN••• and the priority topics for 2023.

A dedicated virtual information session on the specificities of the calls for Clean energy transitionEN••• will take place on 1 June 2023.
Who can apply?

You are eligible to submit a proposal under the LIFE Programme, if you are:

    a public or private legal entity registered in the EU or an overseas country or territory linked to it;
    a third country associated to the LIFE programme; or
    a legal entity created under Union law or any international organisation.

Natural persons are not eligible to apply.
 
Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the LIFE Programme may exceptionally eligible to participate where this is necessary for the achievement of the objectives of a given action to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Union. However, those legal entities shall in principle bear the cost of their participation.
Partner search tools

As a potential LIFE project beneficiary, you may profit from cooperation with partners both inside and outside your country.
Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal

The Funding & tender opportunities portal allows you to find partners for your project ideas among the organisations registered in the portal Participant Register.

An online webinar ‘Funding & Tenders Portal for beginnersEN•••’ for external users takes place on 27 May to explain and demonstrate the main features of the portal.
Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network can help your business find the right international partners to grow and expand abroad.
National contact points

Get in touch with your national contact point (NCP) for the LIFE programme. They can help you with your application and organise information/networking events and proposal writing workshops. They can also support you in communicating and disseminating your project results.

    List of National Contact Points

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