Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
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. After 22 years, €3.4 billion and 4.170 projects, the LIFE Programme continues to finance actions for the environment and climate action.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The proposed action should establish a facility combining both reactive and proactive assistance to economic operators, in particular manufacturers, suppliers and (online) dealers (e.g. retailers, installers), through targeted and timely information to increase their awareness, knowledge and understanding of the relevant ecodesign and energy labelling regulations. Attention should be given to engaging small and medium-sized suppliers and dealers, for example, those not engaged in trade associations and/or located in remote areas.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals should cover at least the following with both a reactive and proactive approach:
- Raise the capacity of manufacturers, suppliers and (online) dealers (e.g. retailers, installers) on ecodesign and energy labelling requirements and developments through targeted and timely communication, dissemination and capacity building activities.
- Set-up a help-line service to address enquiries from economic operators (which are often too specific to be dealt with effectively by the Commission’s Europe Direct service). Questions for which no authoritative or clear answers exist yet may simply be acknowledged as such and “escalated” to the authorities.
- Develop and deploy effective communication and dissemination strategies and channels to target and reach out to relevant economic operators across the whole of Europe including importers who place products from third countries on the Union market.
- Disseminate, create and/or adapt existing technical guidance and promotional material, as necessary, for example, covering new (and revised) product groups by current and upcoming legislation. The proposed facility should not invent or take responsibility for interpretations of legislation or other formal guidance but rather support economic operators in accessing and applying relevant information and guidance and refer questions where no answers or guidance exists to the competent national authorities, including market surveillance authorities or the European Commission.
- Promote the use and uptake of EPREL – European Product Registry for Energy Labelling[5] amongst economic operators. In addition, promote the use of EPREL to the wider public and public authorities as a reference point for informed purchase decisions as well as a tool for bulk purchasers and for public procurement. Proposals are invited to outline their promotion strategy to this end.
- Promote relevant available guidance/resources such as the European Commission efficient products portal[6] through appropriate channels (e.g. websites, targeted campaigns, webinars, conferences, sectoral trade fairs, industry associations, specialised networks etc.) with the aim to increase suppliers and dealers’ awareness and stimulate their potential role as multipliers.
- Compliance support through online sweeps: organise 2 pilot spot checks of energy labelling on online shops in multiple Member States simultaneously, within the same quarter, focused on a (few) product group(s), including bilateral follow up with online stores showing problems with compliance to offer support in terms of training and tips for better compliance.
- Develop appropriate monitoring and measurement activities to adequately capture the impacts of the proposed action such as increased compliance, awareness, knowledge and engagement of economic operators in ecodesign and energy labelling regulations.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
90%
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Industry
- Public Administration
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
- Trade and Commerce
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Businesses
- Chambers
- Consumer Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Semi-governmental organisations
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
- non-EU countries:
- listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme
− the coordinator must be established in an eligible country
Relevant stakeholders (e.g. European and national level organisations) necessary for the successful implementation of the action should be involved in the project consortium with an adequate balance of interests, including at least:
- European organisations representing relevant economic operators in different sectors such as associations of suppliers and associations of dealers, with a minimum of 5 partners covering together through their membership at least 2/3 of the EU Member States.
- European organisations representing relevant actors in the public or non-profit sector, with a minimum of 3 partners representing standardisation consumer associations, bodies and Market Surveillance Authorities’ organisations, covering together through their membership at least 2/3 of the EU Member States.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
www.lifecyclamen.com.cy
Contact Persons
Marilena Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Environment
Telephone: +357 22 408 926
Email: mpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy
Chrystalla Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Climate
Telephone: +357 22 408 962
Email: cpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy