(26 January 2016) – The European Commission today announced an investment of € 63.8 million for the first-ever “Integrated Projects” to be funded under the LIFE programme for the environment.
“Integrated Projects” were introduced to implement environmental legislation on a wider scale and increase the impact of funding for plans developed on the regional, multi-regional or national level.
The six projects selected have a total budget of €108.7 million, including €63.8 million of EU co-financing. They could leverage and coordinate over €1 billion in complementary funding from EU agricultural and regional funds, as well as national and private funds. The money will support projects in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the UK.
The main feature of these projects is their all-encompassing approach, ensuring involvement of multiple stakeholders and promoting the mobilisation of at least one other funding source, be it EU, national or private. LIFE Integrated Projects were introduced to help Member States comply with key EU legislation in four areas: Nature, Water, Air and Waste.