AER has a long tradition of knowledge sharing and initiatives on “green” topics. As President of AER, Mr Magnus Berntsson, is also President of R20 – Regions for Climate Action. In order to promote an integrated approach on this matter, AER regularly attended the UN climate Conference of Parties (COP), shared the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and organised ad-hoc activities for members as the study visits in the Province of Gelderland (NL) on energy transition and climate change.

In terms of EU funding and projects, we would like to share with you the opportunities now available for 2019 within the LIFE Programme, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate actions.

LIFE Programme & Calls

The EU LIFE Programme provides funding opportunities for the support of Environment, Nature Conservation and Climate Action projects throughout the EU.

LIFE calls for 2019 are now open and planned as follows:

1.Environment sub-programme

• Environment and resource efficiency traditional projects – deadline concept note 17 June 2019
• Nature and biodiversity traditional projects – deadline concept note 19 June 2019
• Environmental governance and information traditional projects – deadline concept note 19 June 2019
• Integrated projects – deadline concept note 5 September 2019
• Technical assistance projects – deadline 12 June 2019
• Preparatory projects – date to be announced

2.Climate action sub-programme

• Climate change mitigation traditional projects ​​​​​- deadline full proposal 12 September 2019
• Climate change adaptation traditional projects​ – deadline full proposal 12 September 2019
• Climate governance and information traditional projects – deadline full proposal 12 September 2019
• Integrated projects – deadline concept note 5 September 2019
• Technical assistance projects – deadline 12 June 2019

3.Operating grants for NGOs

• Operating grants to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in view of concluding framework partnership agreements (FPAs) and specific grant agreements (SGAs) – deadline 3 June 2019

LIFE calls are opened to…anyone!

• Public body operating under a national government’s authority, e.g. local authority, national administration etc.
• Private commercial organisation
• Private non-commercial organisation (NGOs etc.)

In contrast to other funding programmes LIFE projects are very flexible in terms of how they are set up. You can run a project on your own as well as with partners from your own or another country.

Anyone registered in the EU can make a proposal for LIFE traditional, integrated, preparatory, and technical assistance projects under the sub-programmes for environment and climate action. Specific conditions apply only to capacity building projects.

LIFE Information & Networking Day

The European Commission is organising an Information & Networking Day on the 2019 LIFE call for project proposals that will take place in Brussels on 30^th of April. With this occasion you will be able to acknowledge the significant changes of the programme compared to previous years, you will have the chance to meet the representatives of the LIFE Programme from the European Commission and get to know potential partners for your project.

Therefore, don’t miss this opportunity and join it! The registration is open until 25^th of April 2019, so no time to wait! In case you cannot come to Brussels, you can watch the event by streaming.

Useful tips!

• In each EU country there is a national and sometimes several regional contact points to help you with your application
• The Research and Innovation Participant Portal allows you to find partners for your project ideas among the organisations registered in the portal Beneficiary Register.

The AER Secretariat is also eager to connect our member regions and partners ready to apply for this Programme.

We advise you to read carefully all relevant documentation listed by the EASME (Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) before applying.

Photo by pixabay