The new LIFE Programme 2014-2020

LIFE Integrated Projects

Angelo Salsi

Head of Unit, LFE Nature, DG Environment

Writers' Workshop

Prague, 14 August 2014

Tools: Integrated projects (IPs)

"projects implementing on a large territorial scale, in particular, regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national scale, environmental or climate plans or strategies required by specific Union environmental or climate legislation, developed pursuant to other Union acts or developed by Member States' authorities, primarily in the areas of nature, including, inter alia, Natura 2000 network management, water, waste, air and climate change mitigation and adaptation, while ensuring involvement of stakeholders and promoting the coordination with and mobilisation of at least one other relevant Union, national or private funding source"

Tools: Integrated projects (IPs) For whom?

Entities responsible for the implementation of the target plan or strategy. Mainly public administrations or other entities active in the field of environment and climate protection, capable of coordinating, besides the IP, complementary actions co-funded by additional private or public (preferably EU) funds.

Average size?

2 to 10 beneficiaries; EU contribution: average 10 M€

about 3 IPs per Member State.

Co-funding rate?

60%

IPs – the concept Plan/strategy implemented by the IP and complementary actions:

Action 1

Action 2

….

Complementary actions/measures (co-)

financed by non-LIFE funds

(EU/national/private).

LIFE Integrated Project LIFE co-financing: Beneficiaries contribution:

60% 40%

No other EU funds used!!

Plan or Strategy (2014-2017) Environment sub-programme:

a. Prioritised Action Frameworks pursuant to Article 8 of the Habitats

Directive;

b. Waste Management Plans pursuant to Article 28 of the Waste Framework

Directive;

c. River basin management plans pursuant to Annex VII to the Water

Framework Directive; or

d. Air quality plans pursuant to the Air Quality Directive.

Climate Action sub-programme:

a. National, regional or local specific adaptation strategy or action plan

b. Urban or community-based action plan pioneering the transition to a low

carbon and/or climate resilient society; or

c. National, regional or industry/sector specific greenhouse gas mitigation

strategy or low carbon economy roadmap

"Implementation" of a Plan/Strategy:

Target implementation of all elements/actions of the plan in question

In a large geographical area/ covering a significant number of cities (air, water)

Not all aspects have to be directly covered by the LIFE project itself)

There have to be longterm commitments to implement the entire plan in the given geographical area / cities by all relevant actors

N.B.: IPs help competent authorities to fulfil their legal obligations!

IP vs. “traditional” project Implementation of a plan vs. Contributing to implementation a plan

– IP serves as a catalyst for implementation from A to Z of a plan in a given geographical area

– Traditional projects implement or improve implementation of actions linked to one or several aspects of a plan

Approach / emphasis

– IP focusses on coordination and ensuring the commitment of all relevant actors to implement the whole plan, largely outside of the LIFE project (higher overheads; low CCA obligations in NAT/BIO)

– Traditional projects focus on concrete action / demonstration / pilotting (25% CCA for NAT/BIO; no obligation for common strategy beyond LIFE project)

Mechanisms Submission (only for Environment subprogramme in 2014)

– Off-line (Word and Excel files)

– Two stage approach:

• 1st stage Concept Note and plan

• 2nd stage full proposal

Implementation:

– Revolving planning mechanism

– More flexibility

– Payments following periodic planning

– Cascading grants

Award criteria (2014-2017)

Overall pass score: 55 of 100 possible points

Minimum

Pass Score

Total

Possible

Technical coherence and quality 10 20

Financial coherence and quality 10 20

Extent and quality of the contribution to the

objectives

15 20

Extent and quality of mobilisation of other funds, in

particular Union funds

10

Quality of multipurpose, synergies and integration 7 15

Replicability and transferability 5 10

Transnational, green procurement, uptake 5

Nature IPs

Implements a Proiritized Action Framework adopted under the Habitats directive

EU added value will consider the project‘s contribution towards achieving the objectives of the Habitats and Birds Directive, and improving the conservation status of species and habitat types of Community interest and/or the status of bird species under the Birds Directive

Example of

a Nature IP

for a PAF in

region X

Competent body

submits proposal

for an Integrated

Project under LIFE

covering specific

activities LIFE IP EC

60% + co-

financing

40%

Cohesion

Fund

EARDF

Horizon

2020

ESF

ERDF

Proposal shows how

other Funds will be used

to finance complementary

activities

(at least 1)

Competent

Body

Region X +

stakeholders

Agricultural

measures

Training farmers

Others

Large

infrastructure

Scientific

studies

Management bodies

Institutional capacity

Tourism

promotion

Decontamination

Risk

management

Recurrent

management Visitors facilities

Land

purchase

IAS & Habitat

restoration

Education &

awareness

Management plans

Monitoring

Species

Conservation

Full plan implementation

National/

private

funds

TIME

Air IPs Implement and monitor local and regional air quality management plans - AQMP (Directive 2008/50/EC)

Contribute to National Air Pollution Reduction Programmes

Involve at least 5 cities

Regional Air Quality Plan: coordination and cooperation between all local administrations and the regional administration

Air IP example

5 cities – 1 LIFE IP – 5 complementary projects

Coordinating beneficiary (CB) is the Regional authority for all 5 cities or is the most representative city

In the most representative city (at least):

The competent authority sets the legal framework

All priority actions foreseen in the AQMP/demonstrative actions are implemented (filters, measuring, traffic management)

Private polluters take measures at the source/pay fines/fees

Air IP example (cont.)

The CB coordinates/follows-up on commitments of the actors of the complementary actions

All cities are associated beneficiaries (AB) for dissemination and stakeholder involvement

The other cities commit to implement equivalent actions in their

cities with their own funding/private polluter contribution /ESIF co-

funding

Water IPs implement a/parts of a River Basin Management Plan

(RMBP) in line with the Water Framework Directive,

draw in and target supplementary funding from EU

sources (e.g. EARDF), public funding sources (e.g. funds

floods), private finance (e.g. water companies, local

business) and commitments to implement the whole plan in a

significant part of the catchment area,

involve local stakeholders and NGOs in decision making

offer a blueprint for how to integrate EU, national and local

priorities on the ground

Water IP example Objective of Plan: to provide flood protection, water quantity, water quality, bathing & shellfish water improvements, biodiversity and recreation benefits

Desired additional outcomes: contribute to improving ecosystem services; deliver also for N2000 in a whole river basin or large catchment resilience to future climate change

Necessary elements: targeted infrastructure investment, land management and land use change; supplementary funding and complementary actions outside the LIFE programme

Water IP – RBMP example: Target whole river basin district

• Seek out synergies at the outset and plan

for multiple benefits

• Plan and implement measures to restore

to good status and achieve protected

area objectives

• Focus on improving compliance with

basic measures

• Targeted land use change to protect

sensitive areas and achieve good status

• Remove hydromorphological barriers

from source to sea

Waste Management IPs

Implement Waste Management Plans (WMP) (Article 28 Waste Framework Directive 2008/98)

Link with other sources of funding or initiatives: Structural funds for large investments (waste collection and treatment); private companies and households; utilities; local, regional and national funds

Reflect recommendations arising from an upcoming compliance and assessment exercise

Waste IP example Implement a Regional Waste Management

The CB coordinates/follows-up on commitments of the actors of the

complementary actions

Prevention campaigns for specific targets (citizens, retailers, offices,

schools) or specific waste streams (food waste, reuse/repair,

packaging, textile, etc.)

Creation of reuse centres: ESIF, Local authorities

Civic amenity sites, distribution of compost bins for home

composting, bins for separate collection (dry recyclables, bio waste)

Organisation of specific collection for household hazardous waste,

furniture, textile, WEEE, construction waste in view of

recycling/reuse: local authorities, NGOs

Waste IP example (cont.)

Implementation of PAYT (Pay-as-you-throw) schemes or landfill tax: Competent authority

Development of a monitoring system for waste collection and treatment (including waste composition analysis, generation, collection, treatment and costs) in one municipality; rolling out the system across all municipalities in the region: competent authorities, ESIF

development administrative and operational forces at public level, for the follow-up of implementation and inspections; setting up training courses: ESF

LIFE Call 2014 Indicative timetable

Call publishedJune 2014

Submissionconcept note 10 Oct. 2014

Submissionfull proposalApr. 2015

Integrated projects

Grants signedSept 2015

Unused budget transferred to reservetraditional projects Sept. 2015

Tools: Technical Assistance Project (TAs)

For whom?

For those who would like to submit an IP, but need assistance in preparing the application

What?

Support in drafting the IP application; should be applied for a year before the intended IP

Average size?

Maximum 1% of the allocation for IP's => maximum 100,000€

Co-funding rate?

60%

Thank you for your attention!

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm