The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value.

LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been four complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects across the EU, contributing approximately €3.1 billion to the protection of the environment.

The European Commission (DG Environment and DG Climate Action) manages the LIFE programme. The Commission has delegated the implementation of many components of the LIFE programme to the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). External selection, monitoring and communication teams provide assistance to the Commission and EASME. The European Investment Bank will manage the two new financial instruments (NCFF and PF4EE). More information here:

Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of 776 projects have been co-financed in Spain. Of these, 478 focused on environmental innovation, 268 on nature conservation and biodiversity; nine on information and communication and one has been an operating grant for NGOs.

Under the new LIFE programme, seven climate change adaptation projects, nine climate change mitigation projects, two environmental governance and information projects, two climate governance and information projects and one preparatory project have been co-financed in Spain by the EU. Altogether, these projects represent a total investment of €1.3 billion, of which €600 million has been contributed by the EU.