LIFE Programme 2015 – Application Dates

The European Commission has announced the dates for the 2015 applications to the LIFE Programme which is the EU’s major environmental programme.  Please note that these dates are provisional so they still have to be confirmed. The LIFE Programme has developed  different types of project and the funding deadlines differ.

Most projects are likely to be traditional projects. The Call opens for these projects on 1 June and closes on 15 September 2015.   Traditional projects include projects submitted under the Environmental and Climate Action Sub-Programmes. These include projects in the policy areas of Nature and Biodiversity; Environment and Resource Efficiency; Environmental Governance and Information; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; and Climate Governance and Information. Some applicants will be interested in developing traditional products which deal with sustainable mobility, Low Carbon Vehicles and the development and implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in urban areas.   Based on the 2014 application round, projects in the 2015 round are likely to start in June/July 2016 with Grant Agreements issued in April/May 2016.

Preparatory projects address specific needs for the development and implementation of EU environmental and climate policies and legislation.  The deadline for these projects is 30 June 2015.

Integrated projects are projects that implement large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or transnational) environmental or climate plans or strategies.  The deadline for the Phase I (concept note) is 1 October 2015 and for Phase II (full proposal) is mid April 2016.   Technical Assistance projects provide grants to allow applicants to prepare integrated projects.  The closing date for these projects is Mid-September 2015.

Lastly, the LIFE Programme funds NGO Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs).  This is an operating grant for non-profit making organisations operating primarily in the field of environmental policy and/or climate action and who are involved in the development, implementation and/or enforcement of EU policy and legislation.  The FPAs are for two years.  The publication of the Call is May 2015 and the deadline is July 2015.