Nature and Biodiversity

LIFE-2026 is a single-stage EU LIFE call for Standard Action Projects to protect, maintain and restore natural capital across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, with a total indicative budget of €173.5 million (€166 million for the Nature topic) and indicative project sizes of €2–€13 million. The call opens 21 April 2026 and the submission deadline is 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, with evaluation results expected Feb/Mar 2027 and grant signatures May/June 2027. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States, OCTs, EEA countries or countries associated to the LIFE Programme, proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal and coordinators must be established in an eligible country. The funding rate is up to 60% of eligible costs (up to 75% in limited cases targeting exclusively priority habitats or species), grants follow a budget-based mixed actual cost model, and projects must demonstrate long-term sustainability of ecological outcomes (typically at least 20 years).

Call: LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT — Standard Action Projects (SAP)

What it funds

Grants to deliver on EU nature and biodiversity objectives:conservation, restoration and improved management of marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats and species; actions must support implementation, monitoring or enforcement of EU nature legislation and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Projects exclusively on governance or information should apply to the related NAT-GOV topic.

Who can apply:Public or private legal entities established in eligible countries (EU Member States, OCTs, and countries associated to the LIFE programme). Natural persons are not eligible. International organisations may participate under specific rules.

1. 1Consortia of public bodies, NGOs, research institutions, SMEs and private partners; coordinator must be in an eligible country
2. 2Associated partners, subcontractors and affiliated entities are possible but must meet call conditions
3. 3Projects must demonstrate long‑term sustainability of conservation results (e.g., legal protection, long‑term contracts)

Money available and typical grant size

Total indicative call budget €173 500 000 for 2026. Topic-level allocation:majority to LIFE-2026 with €166 000 000; LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-GOV approx. €7.5 million. Indicative project size for NAT-NATURE: €2–€13 million; NAT-GOV: €1–€2 million.

Funding rate and conditions:Standard funding rate up to 60% of eligible costs; higher rates (e.g., up to 75%) possible for projects targeting exclusively priority habitats or species meeting call criteria. Grants are budget-based (actual costs with some unit/flat-rate rules). Projects requesting large EU contributions (e.g., >€5 million) must justify exceptional EU added value and cost efficiency ¹.

Deadlines and process

Open for submission from 21 April 2026. Single-stage deadline 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Evaluation and grant preparation follow portal procedures; proposals submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Major eligibility and design notes:projects must set clear, outcome‑based biodiversity objectives and measurable conservation impacts; area‑based actions inside or improving the coherence of Natura 2000 are prioritised; land‑purchase, infrastructure, reintroductions and ex‑situ actions are subject to strict additional conditions and long‑term sustainability guarantees.

Footnotes

1. 1See the full Call document and application templates on the Funding & Tenders Portal for detailed eligibility, budget rules, required annexes and scoring: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Basic facts

Call title:Nature & Biodiversity - Standard Action Projects (SAP) (LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT). Programme: Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). Type of action: LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) under the LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based model (LIFE-AG). Opening date: 21 April 2026. Submission deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage submission. Submission channel: EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system.

Available budget and indicative project sizes:Total indicative call budget: €173,500,000. Topic breakdown: LIFE-2026: €166,000,000; LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-GOV: €7,500,000. Indicative project budget ranges published: Nature topic projects typically €2–€13 millioneach (indicative number of projects: ~30). Governance & Information topic projects typically €1–€2 millioneach (indicative number of projects: ~5) ¹.

Scope, objectives and expected impact

Objective:Contribute to EU objectives for protection, maintenance and restoration of the Union’s natural capital across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Scope: Support Standard Action Projects (SAP) aimed at development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU nature and biodiversity legislation and policy (Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme). Projects must target wild flora and fauna and natural or semi-natural habitats. Projects exclusively addressing governance and information are excluded from the Nature topic and should be submitted under the related governance topic LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-GOV. Applicants must define, calculate, explain and achieve ambitious and credible conservation impacts and ensure long-term sustainability and replication.

Intervention areas under the Nature topic:Space for Nature (area-based conservation or restoration measures, creation/improvement of protected areas, corridors and green infrastructure, restoration of habitats, reducing pressures), and Safeguarding our species (species-focused measures including infrastructural measures, awareness, coexistence and invasive alien species control). Governance topic: behavioural change and awareness, compliance assurance and access to justice (Aarhus), enabling replication/upscaling of proven solutions and training/professionalisation of compliance practitioners.

Sustainability expectations:Projects must demonstrate long-term sustainability of outcomes. LIFE requires conservation investments to be sustained for at least 20 years after project end in most cases; where land purchase, long-term leases or contractual agreements are used the proposal must detail long-term legal protection or contractual arrangements. Projects requesting high EU contributions (for example above €5 million) must provide exceptionally clear evidence of EU added value and value for money ¹.

Eligibility and applicant characteristics

1. 1Eligible applicant types: legal entities only (public bodies, private bodies, NGOs, universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, international organisations). Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed natural persons when the entity has no separate legal personality.
2. 2Geographic eligibility: applicants must be established in eligible countries: EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories where applicable), countries associated to the LIFE Programme, EEA countries listed as eligible for the programme. Entities from non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate where necessary for project effectiveness; specific rules apply. Projects should primarily take place in eligible countries (Natura 2000 sites or equivalent networks for non-EU associated countries).
3. 3Consortium composition: flexible. SAPs can be implemented by a single beneficiary (mono-beneficiary) or a consortium of beneficiaries. The coordinator is mandatory in multi-beneficiary grants. Affiliated entities, associated partners, subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions are allowed and must be clearly identified.
4. 4Mandatory registrations: beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and validated prior to signature; LEAR and legal entity validation rules apply.
5. 5Special cases: pillar-assessed participants, international organisations and participants from non-EU countries have specific provisions (see call documents and MGA).

Financial and grant rules

Funding type:direct grant (action grant), budget-based mixed actual-cost model with eligible direct costs, unit costs/flat-rates where applicable, and EU indirect cost flat-rate of 7% (unless otherwise specified). Key budget categories: Personnel (employees, direct contracts, secondments, SME owners, volunteers where applicable), Subcontracting, Purchases (travel, equipment, other goods/works/services), Other costs (financial support to third parties where authorised; land purchase under strict conditions), Indirect costs (flat-rate).

Funding rate, co-funding and no-profit rule:Standard maximum funding rate: 60% of eligible costs. Higher funding rates (up to 75%) may be allowed for projects exclusively targeting priority species or habitats meeting strict criteria (e.g. priority habitats/species under Habitats/ Birds Directives or species/habitats assessed as Endangered or worse on EU/global Red Lists) — applicants must demonstrate full tailoring of activities to the qualifying targets. Co-funding is therefore required (the beneficiary share must cover the remainder). Grants may not produce profit (surplus revenue + EU grant over eligible costs will be recovered) ¹.

Land purchase, leases and infrastructure:Land purchase, long-term leases and one-off compensation payments may be eligible only under strict conditions: clear link to Natura 2000 network integrity or equivalent, long-term legal protection or contractual guarantees, proof that purchase is the only/cost-effective means to achieve conservation outcome, evidence that price is consistent with local market values, purchaser must be eligible beneficiary with capacity to manage land in the long term, and other safeguards. Land purchase by public bodies that previously owned the land within 24 months prior to application is generally not eligible; land purchased must be assigned definitively to conservation purposes. Eligibility and documentation requirements are extensive and project proposals with land transactions must address each condition explicitly.

Application process, forms and templates

Application mode:single-stage open call. Submission exclusively via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Proposals must use the Portal application templates and comply with formatting and page limits. Paper applications are not accepted. Applicants must register organisations in the Participant Register; coordinators submit the proposal on behalf of the consortium in the Portal.

Application structure and mandatory annexes:Application composed of Part A (administrative forms; completed online), Part B (technical description; upload PDF using the LIFE SAP/OAG template), Part C (project KPIs and Part C data filled online) and mandatory annexes. Mandatory annexes and templates to upload include: Detailed budget table (Excel template), Participant information (profiles per beneficiary), Maps (site maps per project area), Description of sites, Description of species and habitats, Letters of support/commitment, and Model Grant Agreement / LIFE MGA and other reference documents. Additional documents: LIFE call document (call fiche), LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2025-2027, LIFE Regulation, EU Financial Regulation references, and guidance materials. The Portal provides the application templates and the mandatory Part B template; failure to use correct templates or exceed page limits (Part B up to 120 pages) may make proposals inadmissible.

1. 1Application forms: Part A (online), Part B (PDF upload), Part C (online), and mandatory annexes (detailed budget table, participant information).
2. 2Suggested / recommended annexes: Maps, Description of sites (per site), Description of species and habitats (per target), Letters of support, GIS files (final deliverable if funded), LIFE Project Indicators entry (Part C and LPI webtool).
3. 3Where relevant: deliverables such as Natura 2000 designation commitments must be supported by formal letters from competent national authorities and included as milestones in the work plan.

Evaluation, award criteria and timetable

Evaluation process:one-stage evaluation by independent experts and evaluation committee. Admissibility and eligibility checks followed by assessment of award criteria. Timeline (indicative): information on evaluation results February/March 2027; grant agreement signatures May/June 2027, subject to legal and financial checks prior to signature. Invitations to grant preparation are not binding until signature and full legal checks are completed.

Award criteria and scoring:Award criteria: Relevance (0–20), Impact (0–20), Quality (0–20) and Resources (0–20). Individual thresholds: 10/20 per criterion. Overall pass threshold 55 points (after weighting). Bonuses (each up to 2 points) available for exceptional cross-sub-programme synergies, projects implemented in Outermost Regions or other special regions, projects building on/upscaling previous EU-funded results, exceptional catalytic potential, and transnational cooperation. Final selection within the available budget; ex aequo proposals prioritised by Impact, then Relevance, Quality and Resources.

Evaluation stages and likely number of selection steps:Single-stage submission with one evaluation step. Successful applicants will enter grant preparation, including legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and possible requirement for prefinancing guarantees.

Key administrative, financial and compliance requirements

Legal and financial set-up:Grant Agreement based on the LIFE Model Grant Agreement (LIFE MGA). Project duration: up to 120 months (maximum). Standard prefinancing payment (initial float normally 30% of maximum grant amount) unless reduced or replaced by a prefinancing guarantee. Reporting: continuous reporting (deliverables, milestones) via Portal, periodic reports and financial statements in the Portal; certificates on financial statements may be requested depending on thresholds. Record keeping: beneficiaries must retain records and supporting documents for the period set out in the Data Sheet (typically five years after final payment, shorter periods may apply for small grants). Checks and audits: the granting authority, the Commission, OLAF, EPPO and ECA may carry out checks, reviews, audits and investigations; beneficiaries must give access to records and premises. Recoveries and liabilities: ineligible costs will be rejected and recovered; joint and several liability or limited regimes apply as set out in the Data Sheet.

Eligibility of costs and specific rules of interest to implementers

Personnel costs:eligible when incurred according to the beneficiary’s accounting rules and calculated by accepted methods. SME owners and volunteer work can be declared under unit-cost rules if the call allows and conditions are met. Subcontracting: allowed but expected to be exceptional; subcontracted tasks must be justified and procured under transparent procedures and best value for money. Equipment: typically declared as depreciation costs (portion used for the action) unless the call and grant allow full capitalised cost for specific equipment. Travel and subsistence: usually actual costs. Indirect costs: flat-rate (standard 7% of direct eligible costs unless specified otherwise). VAT: non-deductible VAT is eligible in principle but check national rules and LIFE-specific guidance. Financial support to third parties: only allowed if the call specifically authorises it and strict selection and transparency rules are applied. Land purchase and long-term leases: strictly controlled with detailed eligibility conditions and documentation requirements; eligibility must be demonstrated in the proposal and final supporting documents.

Who should apply and recommended project maturity

Target applicants:public authorities, conservation NGOs, research/academic institutions, land-managing bodies, environmental consultancies, regional authorities, and private entities with conservation responsibilities. Projects should be mature with a clear conservation baseline, targeted species/habitats and measurable KPIs. Typical maturity: implementation, restoration and demonstration stages with readiness to implement area-based interventions, infrastructure works, species measures, monitoring plans and governance/compliance capacity building. Close-to-market elements may be accepted for SAPs that include market-oriented approaches, but the primary focus for LIFE Nature is conservation outcomes and quality of implementation.

Eligible topics and exclusion examples

Accepted focus:site-based restoration and management actions, species conservation (including reintroductions with strict conditions), restoration of rivers/coastal/wetland/marine habitats, green and blue infrastructure, restoration of carbon-rich ecosystems, measures addressing invasive alien species of Union concern, coexistence and conflict reduction with large carnivores, pollinator habitat restoration, urban and peri-urban nature recovery, and measures explicitly supporting implementation of EU nature legislation and national restoration plans. Projects that focus exclusively on governance and information must be submitted under LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-GOV. Purely information-only or awareness activities without demonstrable conservation outcomes are out of scope for the Nature topic.

Templates and application preparation guidance

1. 1Application Form Part A: administrative data entered directly into the Portal screens (participants, summary budget, duration, keywords, declarations).
2. 2Application Form Part B: technical description using the LIFE SAP/OAG Word template downloaded from the Submission System; completed Part B must be uploaded as a PDF (comprehensive work plan, WPs, deliverables, milestones, risk management, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, communication and dissemination plan).
3. 3Application Form Part C: online section for project KPIs and indicator data; ensure coherence between Part B and Part C and the LIFE Project Indicators (LPI) webtool entries.
4. 4Detailed budget table (Excel template): mandatory annex with per-participant, per-budget-category cost breakdown, staff effort allocation (person-months) and justification for major costs, subcontracting and equipment depreciation or capitalisation details.
5. 5Participant information template: profiles for each beneficiary/affiliated entity including key staff, past projects or activities, affiliated entities and associated partners.
6. 6Maps, Description of sites, Description of species and habitats: pre-defined templates in the Submission System to provide geospatial and site/species-specific evidence (upload GIS where requested).
7. 7Letters of support/commitment: formal letters from competent authorities, landowners or key stakeholders to confirm commitments (essential where official designation, management plans or long-term agreements are required).
8. 8Model Grant Agreement (LIFE MGA) and related reference documents (available on Portal Reference Documents).

Applicants are strongly advised to consult:the full call document (call fiche), LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2025–2027, LIFE Regulation, EU Financial Regulation, AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Portal Online Manual and FAQs. National Contact Points (NCPs) and the LIFE helpdesk can provide guidance; applications should be prepared early to allow for registration and validation in the Participant Register and to obtain letters and commitments needed for deliverables.

Assessment and selection practicalities

Admissibility rules:proposals must respect page limits and template formatting. Proposals must be complete and include all mandatory annexes. Part B is limited (commonly up to 120 pages) and annexes do not count towards that limit where stated. Applications are assessed on eligibility and award criteria; successful proposals will be invited to grant preparation which includes legal entity validation and financial capacity checks. Prefinancing guarantees, modified financial responsibility regimes or other safeguards may be requested if financial capacity or audit history are not satisfactory.

Application timeline highlights and support:Portal submission period open 21 April 2026. CINEA/LIFE offers online guidance, NCP support and information sessions (recordings available). Submit questions to the Portal IT Helpdesk for technical issues and to CINEA LIFE enquiries for non-IT matters; ask questions at least seven days before the call deadline. Partner search facilities are available in the Portal to publish partner requests and search the Participant Register.

Structured extract answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Public bodies, regional and local authorities, universities, research institutes, NGOs and conservation organisations, SMEs and large enterprises, land-managing organisations, international organisations, non-profit organisations and other legal entities established in eligible countries. Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed natural persons under specific conditions. Affiliated entities and associated partners may participate under the rules set out in the call.

Funding Type:Action grant (direct EU grant). Budget-based mixed actual-cost grant with permitted use of unit costs, flat rates or lump sums as specified in Annex 2/2a of the LIFE MGA and the call conditions.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium optional: proposals can be submitted by a single beneficiary (mono-beneficiary) or by a consortium with a coordinator. Multi-beneficiary projects require a coordinator and can include affiliated entities and associated partners.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories where applicable), countries associated to the LIFE Programme and listed EEA/associated countries; in exceptional cases non-associated third country entities may participate if essential for action effectiveness. Projects must primarily take place in eligible countries and, where Natura 2000 is relevant, in designated Natura 2000 sites or equivalent protected areas.

Target Sector:Nature and biodiversity conservation: habitats and species restoration and management, freshwater and marine ecosystems, ecological corridors and green/blue infrastructure, invasive species control, pollinator recovery, forestry restoration, urban/peri-urban biodiversity, and governance/compliance/awareness actions under the governance topic.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are singled out in the call text; eligibility is defined by region: EU, EEA, associated countries and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The call references Member States and associated countries generally; Croatia is mentioned in relation to Article 17 reporting specifics in the call guidance.

Project Stage:Maturity expected at implementation and demonstration stage: projects should be ready to implement area-based conservation/restoration, species measures, monitoring and enforcement activities. Close-to-market elements may be included for scaling or replication but primary focus is operational conservation implementation, monitoring and long-term sustainability.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €173,500,000. Indicative individual project budgets: Nature topic €2–€13 million; Governance & Information topic €1–€2 million. Projects requesting exceptionally high amounts (e.g. above €5 million) must justify value for money and EU added value. Exact maximum grant amount per selected award will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.

Application Type:Open single-stage call for proposals via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must use Portal-provided templates and submit electronically.

Nature of Support:Monetary direct grant funding (reimbursement of eligible costs at the funding rate). Complementary non-monetary support includes project visibility, access to the LIFE knowledge base, LPI reporting and networks; practical guidance and NCP support are available separately.

Application Stages:Single-stage submission followed by one-step evaluation. Successful proposals invited to grant preparation (legal and financial checks) before signature.

Success Rates:Not specified in the call. Selection depends on quality, relevance and available budget. Historically LIFE competition is strong; applicants should plan for competitive selection and prepare high-quality, well-justified proposals.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Standard funding rate is up to 60% of eligible costs; therefore co-funding by beneficiaries or third parties is required for the balance. Higher rates (e.g. 75%) may apply under strict conditions for projects exclusively targeting priority habitats/species; beneficiaries must demonstrate eligibility for the higher rate.

Templates:The Portal provides mandatory templates and structured forms: Application Form Part A (online), Part B (LIFE SAP and OAG template to be downloaded and uploaded as PDF), Part C (online KPIs), Detailed Budget Table (Excel), Participant Information template (project participant profiles), Maps template, Description of Sites template, Description of Species and Habitats template and letters of support. The LIFE Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and Annotated Grant Agreement are reference documents. Applicants must not alter templates and must respect page and formatting limits; key required annexes include the detailed budget table and participant information.

Important submission and implementation notes

Prepare applications well in advance of the deadline (register organisations in the Participant Register PICs, obtain legal entity validation and letters of support). Ensure coherence between Part B narrative, Part C KPIs and the detailed budget table. Attach required letters from competent national authorities when project outputs require public commitments (e.g. Natura 2000 designation, site boundary updates or management plan adoptions). For projects involving land transactions, reintroductions, or major infrastructure, ensure the proposal addresses all eligibility conditions in full and includes documentary evidence and milestones to secure actions before project end. Check the LIFE call document, LIFE MGA and Portal Online Manual for obligations on reporting, durability, deliverables, visibility and IPR, and prepare to meet audit and record-keeping requirements.

Support resources:Portal Online Manual, LIFE website FAQs, National Contact Points, CINEA LIFE helpdesk, IT Helpdesk for Portal issues, LPI guidance and the LIFE database of past projects for learning and replication opportunities.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document, application templates and all annexes available at the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT (Call document and annexes) LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT topic page.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The LIFE-2026 call provides funding for Standard Action Projects aimed at protecting, maintaining and restoring the European Union's natural capital across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. This is a single-stage call for proposals under the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

Call Timeline and Deadlines

Opening Date:21 April 2026

Submission Deadline:22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Evaluation Results:February/March 2027

Grant Agreement Signature:May/June 2027

Funding Budget and Project Amounts

Total Available Budget:€173,500,000 across both Nature and Biodiversity topics

LIFE-2026 Allocation:€166,000,000 with an estimated 30 projects to be funded

Project Budget Range:€2,000,000 to €13,000,000 per project

LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-GOV Allocation:€7,500,000 for Nature Governance and Information projects (€1,000,000 to €2,000,000 per project; approximately 5 projects)

Eligible Applicants and Geographic Scope

Applicants must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries. Eligible countries include all EU Member States, overseas countries and territories (OCTs), EEA countries, and countries associated with the LIFE Programme. The coordinator must be established in an eligible country. All participants must register in the Participant Register before submitting proposals and be validated by the Central Validation Service.

Project activities must take place in eligible countries. Activities outside eligible countries are only permitted if necessary to achieve EU environmental objectives and ensure intervention effectiveness, such as conservation of migratory birds in wintering areas or transboundary river management.

Project Objectives and Scope

Projects must lead to smart and outcome-based implementation of EU nature and biodiversity legislation and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Only wild flora, fauna, and natural and semi-natural habitats may be targeted. Projects must fall under at least one of two intervention areas: Space for Nature (area-based conservation or restoration measures) or Safeguarding our Species (other relevant activities to improve species condition).

Priority Areas for Funding

• Species and habitats in unfavourable conservation status, particularly those with unfavourable-bad and declining trends
• Implementation of Natura 2000 conservation objectives and management
• Reducing deliberate or accidental killing of targeted species and promoting coexistence
• Invasive alien species management, particularly species of Union concern
• Establishing coherent protected area networks and strictly protecting at least one-third of EU protected areas
• Implementing EU nature restoration targets for species and habitats
• Restoring degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems and preventing natural disaster impacts
• Improving health and resilience of managed forests through closer-to-nature forestry
• Reversing pollinator decline through habitat restoration and conservation
• Bringing nature back to agricultural land with innovative biodiversity approaches
• Recreating functional ecosystems in urban and peri-urban areas
• Restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and free-flowing rivers

Funding Rate and Financial Terms

Standard Funding Rate:Maximum 60% of eligible costs

Higher Funding Rate (75%):Available for projects targeting exclusively priority habitats or species, including priority habitats and species under the Habitats Directive, priority bird species, habitats with unfavourable-bad declining status, endangered species on EU red lists, or threatened species on global IUCN red lists

Grant Form:Budget-based mixed actual cost grant with unit costs and flat-rate elements

Indirect Costs:7% flat-rate of eligible direct costs (excluding volunteers and exempted categories)

Project Duration:Maximum 120 months, with extensions possible if justified

Eligible and Ineligible Costs

Eligible Cost Categories

• Personnel costs (employees, direct contracts, seconded persons, SME owners, volunteers)
• Subcontracting costs for action tasks
• Travel and subsistence (actual costs)
• Equipment (depreciation only, or full cost for listed equipment if specified in call)
• Other goods, works and services
• Land purchase (subject to specific conditions for Natura 2000 network contribution)
• Financial support to third parties (if authorized in call)

Ineligible Costs

• Return on capital and dividends
• Debt and debt service charges
• Provisions for future losses
• Interest owed and currency exchange losses
• Deductible or refundable VAT
• Costs during grant agreement suspension
• Costs declared under other EU grants (except Synergy actions)
• Staff costs for normal administration activities
• Costs for EU institution representatives

Key Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to implement projects. Financial capacity is assessed through profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, and audit reports. Operational capacity is evaluated based on staff qualifications, experience, and previous projects of comparable size and nature.

Applicants must not be subject to EU exclusion grounds, including bankruptcy, breach of tax or social security obligations, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, or significant deficiencies in complying with previous EU contracts.

Sustainability and Long-Term Requirements

Projects must maintain ecological effects for at least 20 years after project end. Investments in habitat management or restoration must lead to long-term improvements, typically requiring legal protection (Natura 2000 sites or nationally protected areas) or long-term contractual agreements. For land acquisition and habitat restoration, areas should receive appropriate legal protection to contribute to the Trans-European Nature Network.

Natura 2000 site designation, Standard Data Form updates, and strategic document adoption must include formal commitments from Member State competent authorities before project end, with corresponding milestones in work plans. If not achieved by project end, related costs may be considered ineligible.

Special Project Requirements

Species Reintroduction and Translocation

Projects involving species reintroduction or conservation introduction must meet eleven specific conditions, including cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, elimination of extinction causes, prior agreements with all parties, and favorable local attitudes. Projects must include preparatory, reintroduction, and follow-up phases with exit strategies. Reintroduction outside Natura 2000 sites requires Member State competent authority commitment to designate core areas before project end.

Land Purchase

Land purchase is eligible only when it contributes to Natura 2000 network integrity, represents the most cost-effective conservation approach, and is reserved long-term for conservation purposes. Beneficiaries must ensure long-term legal protection through land register entries or equivalent guarantees. For private organizations, statutes must include provisions for land transfer to conservation entities upon dissolution. Evidence of market-appropriate pricing must be provided.

Ongoing Habitat Management

Annual or recurring habitat management actions already ongoing before project start are ineligible. New or significantly different recurring actions established during the project require justification and demonstration of post-project financing arrangements. At final payment, the Agency verifies that recurring actions continue at required periodicity with administrative and budgetary conditions ensuring continuation after project end.

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

Bonus points (up to 10 additional points) are available for:exceptional synergies between LIFE sub-programmes (2 points), implementation in Outermost Regions or areas with specific vulnerabilities (2 points), building on or upscaling EU-funded project results (2 points), exceptional catalytic potential (2 points), and transnational cooperation essential for project objectives (2 points).

Relevance Criterion (0-20 points)

• Relevance to LIFE sub-programme objectives and call priorities
• Soundness of overall intervention logic and concept
• Co-benefits and synergies with other policy areas

Impact Criterion (0-20 points)

• Ambition and credibility of expected impacts during and after project
• Sustainability of project results after EU funding ends
• Potential for replication, upscaling, and catalytic effects

Quality Criterion (0-20 points)

• Clarity, relevance and feasibility of work plan and geographic focus
• Identification and mobilization of relevant stakeholders
• Quality of impact monitoring and reporting plans
• Communication and dissemination measures

Resources Criterion (0-20 points)

• Project team composition, expertise and management structure
• Appropriateness and consistency of budget with work plan
• Budget transparency and cost item description
• Project environmental impact mitigation and green procurement
• Value for money

Application Submission Process

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline. Paper submissions are not accepted. Applicants must create an EU Login account and register their organization in the Participant Register to obtain a 9-digit participant identification code (PIC) before submission.

Required Application Components

• Part A: Administrative information (filled directly online in Portal)
• Part B: Technical description (maximum 120 pages, downloaded template, uploaded as PDF)
• Part C: Additional project data and KPI contributions (filled directly online)
• Mandatory annexes: Detailed budget table, participant information
• Non-mandatory but recommended annexes: Maps, site descriptions, species/habitat descriptions, letters of support

Project acronyms must include the word LIFE. Proposals must be complete with all requested information and annexes. Formatting requirements include minimum Arial 10-point font, A4 page size, and 15mm margins. Excess pages beyond the 120-page limit will be disregarded.

Grant Agreement and Payment Terms

Initial Prefinancing:Normally 30% of maximum grant amount, paid 30 days from entry into force or financial guarantee (whichever is latest)

Additional Prefinancing:Linked to prefinancing reports, paid 60 days after report receipt or financial guarantee

Interim Payments:Paid 90 days from receiving periodic reports (interim payment ceiling 90% of maximum grant)

Final Payment:Paid 90 days from receiving final periodic report; calculated based on actual eligible costs declared

Prefinancing Guarantee:May be required; normally equal to or lower than prefinancing amount; must be in euros from approved bank/financial institution in EU Member State

Late Payment Interest:ECB rate plus 3.5%

No-Profit Rule:Grants may not produce profit (surplus of revenues plus EU grant over costs); for-profit organizations must declare revenues and any profit will be deducted from final grant

Reporting and Monitoring Obligations

Beneficiaries must submit continuous reporting through the Portal, including deliverables and project data. Periodic technical reports and financial statements are required according to the reporting schedule. All LIFE projects must report on expected outputs and impacts using LIFE Project Indicators (LPIs) in Part C of the application, with data extracted from the LIFE KPI webtool within 9 months of grant signature and at project end.

Projects must maintain records and supporting documents for 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants not exceeding €60,000). Certificates on financial statements may be required if the requested EU contribution reaches €500,000 or higher. Geographic Information System (GIS) files with spatial data must be submitted as final deliverables to visualize project impacts.

Mandatory Deliverables and Work Packages

• Dedicated project page on beneficiary websites
• After-LIFE Conservation Plan (for Nature and Biodiversity projects)
• Exploitation plan including replication component
• Extract of project data from LIFE KPI webtool (month 9 and project end)
• Digital copies of land register with conservation clause (if land purchased)
• Work package on Sustainability, Replication and Exploitation of Project Results
• Work package on Monitoring and Evaluation (for Nature and Biodiversity projects)
• Communication and dissemination plan with visibility of EU funding

Consortium Requirements and Roles

Projects may be single-beneficiary or multi-beneficiary. Multi-beneficiary projects must designate a coordinator responsible for project management, communication with the granting authority, and distribution of payments. The coordinator cannot delegate core tasks to other beneficiaries or third parties, though public body coordinators may delegate to authorized entities they control.

Beneficiaries must establish internal arrangements ensuring proper action implementation. If required by the granting authority, these must be formalized in a written consortium agreement covering internal organization, Portal access management, payment distribution, background and results management, dispute settlement, and liability arrangements.

Associated partners may participate without funding and do not need validation. Subcontracting should constitute a limited part of the action and must be justified if exceeding 30% of total eligible costs. Subcontracting tasks must be specified in Annex 1 with estimated costs in Annex 2.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics

Beneficiaries must avoid conflicts of interest and inform the granting authority immediately of any situations that could affect action implementation. All participants must comply with EU values and ethics requirements. Data protection obligations apply to all personal data processing related to the grant.

Intellectual Property Rights and Dissemination

Beneficiaries own results generated by the project. The granting authority has rights to use materials, documents and information for policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes. Projects must include communication and dissemination plans with activities to promote results to different target audiences. Visibility of EU funding must be ensured through use of European flag and funding statements in all communications.

Checks, Audits and Investigations

The granting authority may conduct checks, reviews and audits of proposals and grants. The European Commission, OLAF, EPPO and European Court of Auditors may also conduct audits and investigations. Beneficiaries must provide access to records and premises for these activities. Findings from audits of other grants may be extended to this grant within 5 years after final payment.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Non-compliance with grant obligations may result in cost rejection, grant reduction, payment suspension, grant agreement suspension or termination, and recovery of funds. Ineligible costs will be rejected. Serious breaches may lead to administrative sanctions, damages claims, and exclusion from future EU funding.

Support and Contact Information

Applicants should consult the Online Manual, Portal FAQ, and LIFE website FAQs for detailed guidance. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide support on specific calls. For Portal submission questions, contact the IT Helpdesk. For non-IT questions, contact CINEA-LIFE-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu at least 7 days before the submission deadline.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals well before the deadline to avoid technical problems. The call deadline cannot be extended. Proposals must be submitted in an official EU language, though English is strongly recommended for efficiency.

Important Considerations for Applicants

• Ensure balanced project budgets with sufficient own resources or co-financing
• Demonstrate clear conservation benefits and long-term sustainability
• Provide evidence of stakeholder support through letters of commitment
• Avoid double funding from multiple EU sources (except Synergy actions)
• Ensure all consortium members meet eligibility and capacity requirements
• Consult with NCPs to avoid overlapping proposals on similar issues
• Build on or coordinate with results from previous LIFE and EU-funded projects
• Include mandatory work packages for sustainability, replication and monitoring
• Provide detailed cost breakdowns and justifications for high-budget proposals
• Ensure compliance with all applicable EU, national and international law

Footnotes

1. 1For projects requesting high EU contributions (above €5 million), exceptionally clear evidence of EU added value and cost efficiency is required. Detailed cost breakdowns must be provided in the detailed budget table.