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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2016.
Dimitris Niavis, who is the LIFE National Contact Point for climate change, is part of the team participating in the Greek representation in Morocco.
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 environmental governance and information.
Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said: “I am delighted to see that this year again our LIFE programme will support many innovative projects to address our common environmental challenges. LIFE-funded projects use relatively little funding and with simple ideas to create profitable green businesses that deliver on the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy.”
