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
SNaPs target the implementation of the following types of plans, strategies or action plans required by specific EU environmental legislation or policy:
- the Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF) pursuant to Article 8 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive) and;
- National restoration plans pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and the Council on Nature Restoration and;
- other plans or strategies adopted at international, national, regional or multiregional level by nature and biodiversity authorities, that implement EU nature and/or biodiversity policy or legislation (e.g. EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Nature Restauration Regulation, EU Pollinators Initiative, Invasive Alien Species Regulation) which foresee specific and measurable actions, or targets, with a clear timeline and budget.
SNaPs should aim at the full implementation of the targeted plan/strategy/action plan and, together with the complementary measures needed to achieve full implementation, remove all remaining administrative, financial, structural and other barriers for its implementation.
They should support the plan/strategy/action plan on a large territorial scale, meaning regional, multi-regional, national or transnational.
They should typically be coordinated by the authority responsible for the implementation of the plan/strategy/action plan (see consortium composition requirements in section 6) and must involve the stakeholders that are instrumental for its successful implementation.
SNaPs should also include a mobilisation and coordination mechanism for additional funding sources for the complementary measures (EU, national, private, etc.).
The objective of a SNaP project is to support the achievement of EU nature and biodiversity objectives by implementing coherent programmes of action in Member States in order to mainstream those objectives and priorities into other policies and financing instruments.
Detailed Call Description
The objective of a SNaP projects will include the coordinated implementation of:
- Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF) and/or
- National restoration plans pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and the Council on nature restoration and;
- Other plans or strategies adopted at international, national, regional or multiregional level by nature and biodiversity authorities and intrinsically linked to the implementation of EU nature and/or biodiversity policy or legislation (biodiversity strategy, pollinators initiative, invasive alien species regulation) and which foresee specific and measurable actions, or targets, with a clear timeline and budget.
In this way, a SNaP project will support effective mainstreaming of nature and biodiversity objectives and priorities into other policies and financing instruments.
SNAPs should the target plan(s) require a major modification regarding e.g. selection of conservation measures or financial architecture, e.g. as a result of the operational programmes negotiations, the relevant authority should submit both the currently applicable plan plus the latest version of the new plan or explanation justifying the expected changes and attach them together with the full proposal.
Depending on the administrative structures of the Member States, PAFs or other eligible plans cover either an entire country or a region. This has a direct impact on the geographical scope of a SNaP as in most cases they would address the implementation of a single plan. Nevertheless, applicants may find it appropriate to submit a SNaP covering territories falling under the scope of more than one plan of the same or a neighbouring country.
The applicants should demonstrate how the project aims at the implementation of the target plan. To this effect the project should include actions that may facilitate the mobilisation and use of other complementary funds that can finance the implementation of actions or measures beyond those supported by the SNaP – both as regards scope and timeframe.
This means in practice that the SNaP shall include:
- a combination of actions that contribute directly to the implementation of measures – and achievement of targets – of the target plan foreseen to be financed by LIFE; and
- horizontal actions that facilitate the full implementation of the plan.
The proposal should therefore present information on:
- the expected level of implementation of the target plan as a direct consequence of the actions foreseen in the SNaP or through the complementary actions financed by other means mobilised in parallel to the SNaP;
- the area covered by measures, the number of sites, the relevance of these sites in terms of species and habitat types within their bio geographical regions;
- the expected improvement of the conservation status of species and habitats with particular attention to those habitats and species that are considered as priority and/or those that have been reported as being in unfavorable conservation status;
- the expected improvement on the long term capacity to monitor and assess the status of species and habitats of EU importance (art 11 and 17 of the Habitats Directive);
- actions planned in order to effectively mainstream nature conservation objectives in the territory targeted by the SNAP into other policy areas and financing instruments.
Proposals should present comprehensive projects that will deliver on their core objective and do so in a way that also delivers benefits for other environmental and climate objectives.
Further details in pages 14-21 of the call document.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
60%
Indicative range of project budgets: €10-30 million
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Public Administration
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- Local Authorities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Private Bodies
- 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 (listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme (list of participating countries)
- the coordinator must be established in an eligible country.
Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by:
- minimum 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities)
- the authority responsible for the plan/strategy/action plan should be in principle participating in the consortium as coordinator. In well justified cases it may participate not as coordinator, but it should in any case be part of the consortium.
Financial support to third parties will be accepted in projects which aim to assist entities outside the project partnership (e.g. non-profit organisations, local authorities or citizens groups) in the implementation or development of local initiatives that will contribute to the project’s objectives.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
www.lifecyclamen.com.cy
Persons to Contact
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
EU Contact Point
For questions please send email at: CINEA-LIFE-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu