LIFE+/Mid-term review

Key points

• Because the first LIFE+ projects only began in January 2009 as a result of implementation difficulties, the mid-term review of the LIFE+ Programme (period: 2007 to 2013) being considered provides insufficient information to make a qualified assessment for the current programming period.
• Nevertheless, the EESC has always stressed the high importance of the LIFE Programme, which has been running for nearly 20 years, for developing and shaping European environmental policy. It believes that it is also necessary and appropriate to continue and further develop the programme during the next funding period (2013–2020).
• The LIFE Programme must be as flexible an instrument as possible to enable the Commission to play an effective shaping role. LIFE accounts for around 0.2% of the EU budget and can provide valuable contributions and suggestions for possible solutions. However it can neither correct failures arising from other EU policy areas nor finance all EU environment-related strategies.
• The requirements stemming from problems in implementing EU environment policy should be the deciding factor in future choices for LIFE projects. Concern for balanced allocation of funding between Member States should not play any role in this respect in future.
• Environmental policy is more developed in Europe than in other parts of the world because of the demands of an actively involved civil society. In this respect, the Commission rightly emphasises the role of nature and environmental protection organisations which is also acknowledged by the EESC. But other sectors of civil society should also be encouraged to cooperate more closely in LIFE projects in the future. The LIFE+ funding mechanisms should be organised in such a way that good projects do not founder because of rigid co-financing conditions.