Projects on Legislative and Policy Priorities (PLP) for the green transition in Urban spaces

The LIFE-2025-PLP-URBAN call is part of the EU's LIFE Programme aimed at supporting the green transition in urban settings through integrated and cross-sectoral projects. The focus is on enhancing the capacity of urban local authorities to adopt coordinated approaches to environmental, climate, and energy challenges. This opportunity encompasses LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) and LIFE Action Grants (LIFE-AG) with a total budget of €23.8 million, allowing for up to €1.75 million in EU contributions per project.

Eligible applicants primarily include public authorities such as cities and regional governments, as well as non-profit entities, research institutions, and universities. Proposals must be submitted by a consortium consisting of at least three applicants from different eligible countries, specifically EU Member States, EEA countries, and EU-associated third countries.

The projects funded under this call should contribute to the implementation of EU environmental, climate, and energy policies, particularly in urban areas. They need to demonstrate defined and quantifiable impacts while addressing areas such as circular economy, zero pollution, nature and biodiversity, and clean energy transition.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a submission deadline set for September 23, 2025. There is a 95% co-funding rate, implying a 5% co-funding requirement from applicants. While specific success rates are not indicated, similar initiatives typically exhibit moderate competitiveness.

The overarching goal is to implement strategies that respond to legislative and policy priorities identified by the EU, enhancing urban sustainability and resilience. Applications should clearly align with the call's objectives and criteria, utilizing resources available for partner searches, and support from National Contact Points. The comprehensive guidelines and necessary documentation are outlined in the call documents, which detail the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation standards.

The LIFE-2025-PLP-URBAN call, under the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), aims to support the green transition in urban spaces through cross-sectoral and integrated approaches. This call for proposals falls under the LIFE Projects for addressing ad hoc Legislative and Policy priorities (PLP). It is a LIFE Project Grant (LIFE-PJG) and utilizes a LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG] model.

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline model. The opening date was April 24, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 23, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected impact of the projects should be defined, qualified, and quantified by the applicants, aligning with the descriptions in Section 2 of the call document and assessed based on the Award criterion ‘Impact’ as detailed in Section 9 of the same document.

The objective of this call is rooted in Article 11 of the LIFE Regulation 2021/783 and the LIFE Multi Annual Work Programme 2025-2027, which allows for financing projects that address specific needs in the development and implementation of Union environment policy and legislation. The European Commission, in consultation with Member States, identifies these needs annually and determines which can be addressed through specific projects.

The scope of the call, as outlined in Point 4.1.4 of the LIFE 2025-2027 Multi Annual Work Programme, includes additional projects responding to Union legislative and policy priorities, identified annually in consultation with Member States. The call specifically targets urban local authorities, encouraging them to adopt integrated approaches to address environmental, climate, and energy challenges in a cross-sectoral manner. Examples include circular economy, zero pollution, nature and biodiversity, clean energy transition, and climate action.

By supporting local authorities in implementing ambitious integrated approaches, the call aims to contribute to the implementation of Union environmental, climate, and/or energy legislation and policies in urban spaces, maximizing the co-benefits of these integrated strategies. Section 2 of the Call document provides further details on the specific needs, fundable activities, expected impacts, and other requirements.

The admissibility conditions cover proposal page limits and layout, as described in Section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions are detailed in Section 6 of the call document. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Section 7. The submission and evaluation processes are outlined in Section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual, while award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Section 9. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is provided in Section 4, and the legal and financial setup of the grants is detailed in Section 10 of the call document.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself, application form templates (specifically the Standard application form for LIFE TA CAP, TA-R, PLP, and BEST, available in the Submission System), mandatory annexes such as the detailed budget table and participant information, and optional annexes like letters of support and maps or site descriptions. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the LIFE MGA. Additional documents include the LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2025-2027, LIFE Regulation 2021/783, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA (Annotated Model Grant Agreement), Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the LIFE-2025-PLP-ENER, LIFE-2025-PLP-URBAN, and LIFE-2025-PLP-NAT-ENV topics combined is EUR 23,800,000 for the year 2025.

There are 36 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

To start the submission process, applicants must access the Electronic Submission Service via the submission button, selecting the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement. Existing draft proposals can be accessed through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the FAQs on the LIFE website and contact their National Contact Point (NCP) for support. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and IT Helpdesk are available for technical questions, and the Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this LIFE call aims to foster a green transition in urban areas by supporting integrated projects led by urban local authorities. It encourages cross-sectoral approaches to address environmental, climate, and energy challenges, aligning with EU environmental policies and legislation. The call provides funding and resources for projects that can demonstrate significant impacts and co-benefits, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment. Applicants should carefully review the call documents and guidelines to ensure their proposals meet the eligibility and award criteria.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call specifically targets urban local authorities. While not explicitly excluding other types, the emphasis is on supporting these authorities in adopting integrated approaches. Other eligible conditions are described in section 6 of the call document.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a LIFE Project Grant (LIFE-PJG) and a LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the possibility to search for partners suggests that consortia are possible and perhaps encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The eligible countries are described in section 6 of the call document. This suggests that eligibility is tied to specific countries or regions outlined in that section, likely including EU member states and potentially associated countries within the LIFE Programme.

Target Sector: The program targets the green transition in urban spaces, encompassing sectors such as circular economy, zero pollution, nature and biodiversity, clean energy transition, and climate action. It is cross-sectoral and integrated, aiming to address interconnections between environmental, climate, and energy challenges at the urban level.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The eligibility is tied to the LIFE Programme, which generally includes EU member states.

Project Stage: The projects are expected to contribute to the implementation of Union environmental, climate, and/or energy legislation and/or policies. This suggests a focus on development, demonstration, and implementation stages, rather than basic research or early-stage ideas.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 23,800,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified, so the funding amount per project is variable.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a LIFE Project Grant (LIFE-PJG) and a LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG].

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the LIFE Programme, specifically targeting projects that support the green transition in urban spaces. The call aims to bolster the capacity of urban local authorities to adopt integrated approaches to environmental, climate, and energy challenges. The funding is provided through LIFE Project Grants and LIFE Action Grants, with a total budget of EUR 23.8 million. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of September 23, 2025. Eligible applicants are primarily urban local authorities, and projects should contribute to the implementation of Union environmental, climate, and energy policies. The call encourages a cross-sectoral and integrated approach, addressing issues such as circular economy, zero pollution, nature and biodiversity, clean energy transition, and climate action. Applicants are expected to define, qualify, and quantify the expected impacts of their proposals, aligning with the call document's objectives and award criteria. The call also provides resources for partner searches and support through National Contact Points and online manuals. The legal and financial aspects of the grants are detailed in the call documents, including the LIFE Multiannual Work Programme and relevant EU Financial Regulations.