LIFE: The EU’s Financial
Instrument for the Environment
and Nature Conservation
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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What is LIFE?
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE supports environmental actions that...
“contribute to the implementation, updating and
development of EU environment policy and
legislation, by co-financing pilot or demonstration
projects with European added value”
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE + General Objectives
LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity co-finances best practice or demonstration
projects that contribute to the implementation of the the Birds and Habitats
Directives and the Natura 2000 network. In addition, it co-finances
innovative or demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation
of the objectives of the Commission Communication (COM (2006) 216 final)
on “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond”.
LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance co-finances innovative or pilot
projects that contribute to the implementation of EU environmental policy
and the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and
instruments. It also helps monitor pressures (including the long-term
monitoring of forests and environmental interactions) on our environment.
LIFE+ Information & Communication co-finances projects relating to
communication and awareness raising campaigns on environmental, nature
protection or biodiversity conservation issues, as well as projects related to
forest fire prevention (awareness raising, special training).
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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2012: Triple 20th Anniversary!
5 June 1992: Rio Earth Summit
-> Convention on Biological Diversity (1993)
21 May 1992: Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC
1992: LIFE begins
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE phases
Launched in 1992:
LIFE I (1992-1995)
LIFE II (1996-1999)
€ 2.2 billion
3104 projects
LIFE III (2000-2004)
LIFE III Extension (2005-2006)
LIFE + (2007-2013)
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
€ 2.143 billion
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LIFE III:
LIFE-Environment
LIFE-Nature
LIFE-Third Countries
(47%)
(47%)
(6%)
LIFE +:
LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity (at least 50%)
LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance
LIFE+ Information & Communication
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Community Co-funding
• Maximum: 50 % of total eligible project
costs
• Up to 75% may be granted to LIFE+
Nature proposals
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Who may participate?
Legal entities established in the Member States of the
European Union, e.g:
NGOs
private non commercial, industrial and commercial firms,
local authorities
universities
research institutes
Coordinating and associated beneficiaries
National / transnational
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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The Astrale monitoring team for GR, CY, BG
Georgia
Valaoras
Christina
Marouli
Ivaylo
Zafirov
Katerina
Raftopoulou
Anastasia
Koutsolioutsou
Pavlos
Doikos
See also: www.astrale.org
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Our main responsibilities involve :
Facilitation of the sound implementation of
LIFE projects
Provision of accurate and reliable
information to the LIFE unit
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Monitoring includes:
Evaluation of progress reports for the EC
Project visits
Advice to the beneficiaries
Communication with local authorities
Problem resolution
Explanation of procedures for the management of LIFE
projects
Project networking
Presentations in LIFE conferences and workshops!
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE in Greece
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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203 projects funded in Greece
since 1992
3 INF 1.5%
60 NAT
140 ENV
29.5%
69%
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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TOTAL INVESTMENT since 1992:
€ 254.9 million,
of which
€ 133.4 million from EU
contribution
EU
52%
GR
48%
Average: € 13 million
per year !
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE + projects in Greece:
2007-present
Environment: 35 GR + 8 CY (42)
Nature & Biodiversity: 12 GR + 4 CY (16)
LIFE+ Information & Communication: 3 GR
Total: 50 GR + 12 CY (62)
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE Environment
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE prepares Impact
impact over time
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE Environment projects in
Greece: Some examples
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Magnetic Clean-up of Oil Spills
LIFE99 ENV/GR/000567- CLEANMAG
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Innovative collection system and Life Cycle
Assessment for waste lube oils
LIFE02 ENV/GR/000360
ICOL
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Demonstration plant for sludge management of
sewage treatment plants with humification
LIFE02 ENV/GR/000371- Humification of Sludge
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Recovery of high added value natural
polyphenols from winery wastes
LIFE03 ENV/GR/000223
DIONYSOS
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Demonstration of a compact methodology for the
collection, stabilisation, packaging and disposal of
asbestos wastes at MABE asbestos mine
LIFE03 ENV/GR/000214
ASBESTMINE
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Satellite-assisted Management of Air Quality
SMAQ
LIFE05 ENV/GR/000214
SMAQ
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Local / regional Public Private Partnership
(PPP) schemes for waste prevention, re-use
and recycling in Halkidiki
LIFE07 ENV/GR/000265
RECYCLING SYMPRAXIS
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Integrated system (combining a
network of meteo stations and a
forest fire simulation platform for
estimating the evolution of a
forest fire) for the management
of forest fires
LIFE08 ENV/GR/000558
CALCHAS
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Innovative Precision Technologies for Optimized Irrigation
and Integrated Crop Management in a Water-limited
Agrosystem
LIFE08 ENV/GR/000570
HYDROSENSE
5 July 2012
Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Integration of end-of-life tires in the life cycle
of road construction
LIFE09 ENV/GR/000304
ROADTIRE
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Keys to Success
Networking
Institutional framework
Strong customer (End user) base
Future funding
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Barriers to replication, transfer and sustainability
Implementation of policy varies
Saturation point reached
Risk management
Commercialisation/Operationalisation
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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LIFE 2014-2020
Climate
3,2 billion €
 Mitigation of climate change
 Adaptation to climate change
 Climate governance and information
Environment
 Environment and resource efficiency
 Biodiversity
 Environmental governance and information
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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Thank you!
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Dr. Katerina Raftopoulou
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