Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy

Opened

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

LIFE: Environment & Climate Action

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.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

LIFE-2026-CET-POLICY

Call

Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy

Summary

Proposals are expected to support Member States in the implementation of:

  • the Energy Efficiency Directive (Scope A). – Scope A: Support for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive
  • the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Scope B). – Scope B: Support for the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Proposals are expected to focus on one of the 2 scopes, as detailed below. The scope addressed should be specified in the introduction of the proposal. Proposals may address elements of more than one scope; the coherence and added-value of a cross-cutting approach should be adequately explained.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals are expected to:

  • Promote and enable exchange of insights and sharing of best practices within/ across Member States
  • Provide support, technical advice and tools for the implementation of requirements of the directives, according to the national and regional context
  • Support the monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation
  • Develop, support and apply methodologies to more accurately measure, calculate and account for contributions made under the specific policy measures and programmes, including data gathering for the energy efficiency and buildings sector
  • Develop and support integrated methodologies for areas and sectors that are addressed by different policies and pieces of legislation, notably approaches for integrated collection of data, calculation/accounting, verification, monitoring, evaluation and reporting as well as modelling and monitoring of energy and non-energy impacts of integrated solutions.

For proposals focused specifically on local heating and cooling plans please consider applying under the topic LIFE-2026-CET-HEATCOOLPLAN: Supporting the delivery of actionable, integrated, and comprehensive Local Heating and Cooling Plans.

For proposals focused specifically on improving information instruments under the EPBD, please consider applying under the topic LIFE-2026-CET-BETTERRENO.

Scope A: Support for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive

Actions under Scope A are expected to address the core provisions and aspects of the Energy Efficiency Directive, notably at least one of the following:

  • the Energy Efficiency First principle, supporting Member States in the efficient implementation of the principle and helping develop easy-to-learn, standardised or simplified (cost effective) assessment methodologies, tools, benchmarks and processes, including for the application of the principle in policy design and planning decisions in energy infrastructure, in national policies supporting the energy transition, in public support schemes, and in planning and investment decisions at regional and local levels
  • the role of the public sector in delivering the specific targets established for the public sector, e.g. by supporting Member States in developing strategies, mapping public buildings and gathering and calculating data from public bodies
  • the Energy Savings Obligations and Energy Efficiency Obligation Schemes, supporting Member States in the design and implementation of the schemes and in the calculation of contributions and evaluation of measures
  • supporting Member States for the Comprehensive Assessments for Heating and Cooling in accordance with EED Art. 25 by providing national guidance, tools and structures to support regional and local authorities, by developing heat transition governance linking regional, local and national level, by collecting necessary data for planning the heating transition (based also on local heating and cooling plans) and by ensuring coherence in data collection and planning of the heat transition between the Energy Efficiency Directive’s comprehensive heating & cooling assessment and policies (EED Art. 25), and (iv) the local heating & cooling plans (EED Art. 25(6)), as well as other relevant planning and data collection (e.g. National Building Renovation Plans (EPBD Art. 3), national energy performance of buildings databases (EPBD Art. 22))
  • supporting Member States in the implementation of EED Art. 11 provisions related to Energy Audits and Energy Management System, notably to facilitate faster implementation of recommended measures listed in the companies’ Action Plan through a harmonised approach on the audit methods across EU Member States and sectors.

Scope B: Support for the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

The EPBD aims to deliver energy efficiency, more affordable energy costs in buildings and to strengthen resilience. The transposition deadline of the EPBD is on 29 May 2026 and Member States are aiming for coherent and effective implementation actions at all levels of governance, including regional and local level. The transposition and implementation of the EPBD requires strong political and practical commitment from Member States. In this context, the actions under Scope B are expected to address core provisions and practical implementation aspects of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Actions should address one of the three focus areas below, even if not limited to these:

  1. Actions to enhance the public awareness of the benefits of implementing the EPBD provisions, effectiveness and coherence of instruments designed to improve the energy performance of buildings through a higher number of and deeper renovations
  2. Actions to support the implementation of all EPBD policy tools for the transition to a climate-neutral building stock
  3. Actions to support an optimal roll-out of building data and information tools in the context of EPBD.

For both scopes A and B:

Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.

Call Total Budget

€4.500.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

95%

Thematic Categories

  • Education and training
  • Energy
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Public Administration

Eligibility for Participation

  • Central Government
  • Legal Entities
  • Local Authorities
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Parliamentary Bodies
  • Private Bodies
  • State-owned Enterprises
  • Training Centres

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

Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register — before submitting the proposal — and will have to be validated by the Central Validation Service (REA Validation). For the validation, they will be requested to upload documents showing legal status and origin.

Other entities may participate in other consortium roles, such as associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions, etc.

Call Opening Date

21/04/2026

Call Closing Date

16/09/2026

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

EU Contact Point