The LIFE program is the EU’s financing 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 through the co-financing of projects with European added value. 

The European Commission (DG Environment and DG Climate Action) manages the LIFE program. The Commission has delegated the execution of many components of the LIFE program to the Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (EASME). The external selection, monitoring and communication teams provide assistance to the Commission and to EASME. The European Investment Bank will manage the two new financial instruments (NCFF and PF4EE).

The LIFE multi-year work program for 2018-2020 was adopted by the European Commission on February 12, 2018, after representatives of EU countries unanimously declared their support for the program on November 22, 2017. The document specifies how, in the coming years, LIFE will focus its policy objectives, share its budget and streamline administrative tasks such as requesting funds.

The new multi-year work program details how the LIFE program will allocate resources among the political priority areas in 2018-2020. Clarifies budgets by specifying what kind of projects can receive support within the Environment and Climate Action subprograms.                 

In total, 1 243.81 million euros will be allocated for nature conservation and enviromental works, and another 413.25 million euros for actions related to climate.

The multi-year work program for 2018-2020 will also increase the LIFE budget for nature and biodiversity conservation by 10%. In parallel, the total number of project themes in the Environment subprogram was reduced from 87 to 42.