Steps

LIFE I (1992-1995)

The initial phase of LIFE coincided with the first time that EU environmental policy was given a firm Treaty basis, in the Single European Act, and with the Fifth Environment Action Programme, which was adopted in 1992. This was to set the pace of environmental reform for the next decade and the LIFE programme was one of its essential tools.

During its first phase, LIFE had a number of components:

• Promotion of sustainable development and quality of the environment (new monitoring techniques, clean technologies, waste disposal, restoring contaminated sites, land-use planning and management, aquatic pollution, urban environment) - indicative allocation: 40 percent of the programme budget

• Protection of habitats and of nature (protecting endangered species and threatened habitats; combating desertification, erosion, etc.; marine conservation; freshwater conservation) - indicative allocation: 45 percent of the programme budget

• Administrative structures and environment services (cooperation and network development) - indicative allocation: 5 percent of the programme budget

• Education, training and information (professional training, environmental education and understanding, dissemination) - indicative allocation: 5 percent of the programme budget

• Actions outside Community territory (third country assistance) - indicative allocation: 5 percent of the programme budget

During its lifetime, LIFE I funded a total of 731 projects.


LIFE II (1996-1999)

During LIFE II, the programme was split into three categories - LIFE-Nature, LIFE-Environment and LIFE-Third countries..

LIFE-Environment projects had to contribute to innovation or policy implementation in the fields of environmental monitoring, clean technologies, waste management, the identification and rehabilitation of contaminated sites, the integration of environmental concerns in town and country planning, aquatic pollution reduction and the improvement of the urban environment.

The objective was to demonstrate new methods and techniques that would have the potential for pan-European application and would pave the way for implementation of existing policies in different environmental fields, or for the future development of policy.

LIFE III  (2000-2004, extended to end 2006)

The thematic priorities of the programme are as follows: climate change, nature and bio-diversity (including the Natura 2000 network), environment and health, sustainable resource use, strategic approaches to policy development, and ex-post evaluation. However, rather than being dealt with thematically as in the past, these issues will be handled horizontally under the two divisions shown above.

In total, between 1992 and 2004, the LIFE programme spent EUR 1.36 billion on 2478 projects covering 40 countries and territories. The total estimated cost of projects to which LIFE contributed financially represents a huge environmental investment in Europe and neighbouring states. Between 1992 and 2004 the total estimated cost of projects supported by LIFE was EUR 3.6 billion. LIFE therefore provided around 38 percent of the total investment, stimulating additional investment in excess of EUR 2 billion up to the end of 2004.

LIFE + (2007-2013)

In September 2004 the European Commission proposed a new Regulation called LIFE+, to run from 2007 to 2013. It will support the implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Plan and support policy development at a European level.

• LIFE+ Promoting a Sustainable Union 2007-2013

• A brief history of EU environmental financing

• Chronology of legislative and other important documents

Summary of the new LIFE+ Regulation (2007-2013) The LIFE+ Regulation is expected to be adopted in the 26th June Environment Council meeting without substantial changes. The overall objective of LIFE+ is to support the development and implementation of EU environmental policy and legislation, including the integration of environmental policy into other policies, as well implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Programme.