Strategic Nature Projects

The Strategic Nature Projects (SNaP) call LIFE-2026 under the LIFE Programme 2021–2027 makes an indicative €75,000,000 available to fund 3–5 large-scale projects with typical grants of €10–€30 millionand a maximum LIFE funding rate of 60% (40% co-financing required). The call is a two-stage process with a concept note deadline of 3 September 2026 and an invited full proposal deadline of 4 March 2027, and projects are expected to run 60–120 months with phased implementation. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States, OCTs, eligible EEA countries or countries associated to LIFE, and projects must target implementation of approved plans such as PAFs or national restoration plans while mobilising complementary funding and involving competent authorities. Proposals must include a complementary funding plan, evidence of commitments (letters of intent) at full proposal stage, and an After-LIFE plan to ensure sustained implementation and mainstreaming of nature conservation objectives.

What it funds

Purpose

Two-stage LIFE call to finance Strategic Nature Projects (SNAP) that accelerate full implementation of national/regional Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs), national nature restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation, or other approved biodiversity/nature plans. Projects combine targeted conservation/restoration measures with institutional capacity building and mobilisation/coordination of complementary funding sources to achieve large-scale, lasting implementation.

Budget and project size:Topic budget €75,000,000; typical project awards €10–€30 million; LIFE co‑funding up to 60% of eligible costs ¹.

1. 1Eligible uses: conservation and restoration actions not covered by other EU programmes, institutional support, capacity building, mobilisation/coordination of complementary funds, mainstreaming and policy/policy‑rule adaptations where needed
2. 2Phased implementation model expected (revolving programming); phases typically around 3 years
3. 3Co‑funding inside the SNAP cannot come from other EU funding; complementary actions should be financed from other EU/national/private sources and evidence of mobilisation or letters of intent is required at full proposal

Who can apply

Public or private legal entities established in EU Member States, overseas territories linked to the EU, or third countries associated to the LIFE programme; international organisations are eligible. Proposals should normally be coordinated by the authority responsible for implementing the targeted plan/strategy (or include that authority in the consortium). Natural persons are not eligible.

Key practicals

Call type:LIFE-PJG project grants, two-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Planned topic opening 21 April 2026.

1. 1Stage 1 concept note deadline: 03 September 2026 17:00 Brussels time
2. 2Stage 2 full proposal deadline (invited): 04 March 2027 17:00 Brussels time
3. 3Indicative project duration: 60–120 months (phased approach recommended)

Selection and eligibility highlights

Proposals must target an approved plan/strategy (PAF, national restoration plan or equivalent) or submit a draft with clear timeline; the plan must be in place by full proposal. Projects are evaluated on impact, implementation quality, and capacity to mobilise complementary funding and stakeholders.

Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; consult the Call Document, application templates and mandatory annexes (implementation overview for the plan/strategy, complementary funding plan and complementary funding declarations at full proposal) for admissibility and eligibility requirements Call document and templates ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation, eligibility/annex templates and detailed guidance (including requirements on complementary funding mobilisation, land purchase rules and reporting) are in the Call Document and Application Form templates available on the Funding & Tenders Portal: LIFE call page.

Call identity and timeline

Call title:Strategic Nature and Integrated Projects (SNAP/SIP). Topic identifier: LIFE-2026. Programme: LIFE — Programme for the Environment and Climate Action. Type of action: LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG). Type of grant agreement: LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG]. Deadline model: two-stage. Planned opening date: 21 April 2026. Deadlines: Concept note stage: 3 September 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Full proposal stage: 4 March 2027 17:00 Brussels time.

Where to find full call documentation:The detailed Call Document, templates and annexes are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page (topic details include Call document, Application form templates, Detailed budget table, Participant information, Maps and other templates). See the official topic page for downloadable annexes and forms LIFE-2026-STRAT-NAT-SNAP-two-stage topic page ¹.

Objective, scope and expected impact

Objective:Support the full implementation of legally and policy‑driven nature and biodiversity plans and strategies: Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs) under the Habitats Directive (Article 8 of Directive 92/43/EEC), National restoration plans under Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 (Nature Restoration Regulation), and other national/regional/multiregional plans by nature and biodiversity authorities that are intrinsically linked to EU nature and biodiversity policy (including the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, pollinators initiative, invasive alien species regulation) and which set specific measurable actions, targets, timelines and budgets.

Scope and design principles:SNAPs are large territorial strategic projects (regional, multi‑regional, national or transnational) that implement a coherent programme of LIFE‑funded actions that contribute to the targeted plan/strategy and catalyse complementary measures funded by other sources. SNAPs must: include strategic capacity building and institutional support; mobilise and coordinate additional finance for complementary actions (in particular from other EU funding programmes but complementary funding within the SNAP may not be other Union funds); actively involve the main stakeholders and competent authorities (ideally as beneficiaries or associated beneficiaries); include concrete conservation and restoration measures where other EU programmes cannot support them; work to change or adapt rules/policies that hinder plan implementation; and be implemented through a revolving programming mechanism structured in phases (Phase 1, Phase 2, etc.), with recommended phase duration around 3 years.

Expected impact (end of project and after):By project end: at least a substantial contribution to implementation of the targeted plan/strategy and establishment of mechanisms to ensure full implementation. After the project (3–5 years): catalysed or achieved full implementation of the plan/strategy; measurable improvements to conservation status of habitats and species; reduced pressures and restored degraded ecosystems; improved long‑term monitoring capacity and governance to sustain results.

Eligibility and consortium requirements

Eligible applicant types:legal entities (public or private bodies). Typical eligible applicants include national, regional or local authorities responsible for implementation of the targeted plan (often recommended as the project coordinator), public administrations, NGOs and conservation NGOs, research institutes, universities, and other organisations with implementation capacity. Natural persons are not eligible except self‑employed persons where legal personality is not separate. International organisations may participate. Entities from third countries not associated to LIFE may exceptionally participate where necessary for the action's effectiveness (they normally bear their own costs).

Consortium requirement:Minimum two beneficiaries (i.e. at least the coordinator plus one other beneficiary). In principle the authority responsible for implementation of the targeted plan/strategy should participate and is expected to be the coordinator; if not coordinator it must be part of the consortium. Projects typically include multiple beneficiaries, associated partners, affiliated entities, subcontractors and may provide financial support to third parties where authorised by the call.

Geographic eligibility (beneficiary scope):Applicants must be established in eligible countries (EU Member States including overseas countries and territories, countries associated to the LIFE Programme and listed EEA/associated countries as specified in the call document). The SNAP must target activities within these eligible territories. Complementary actions financed from other sources may be EU, national, private or international funds; complementary funding must be mobilised and evidenced (letter(s) of intent or commitments) by full proposal stage.

Mentioned countries / region:Region of focus: European Union (EU) Member States and territories; countries associated to the LIFE Programme and eligible EEA participating countries as specified in the Call Document. The call text and portal references routinely refer to EU Member States and associated countries (no specific third country list is provided in this summary).

Funding, budget and co‑funding

Funding type and modality:The programme funds budget‑based action grants (LIFE Project Grants) — direct monetary funding to beneficiaries to cover eligible costs and contributions. Funding instrument: grant on a budget‑based model (mixed actual costs; unit costs and flat rates may be used where allowed and defined in annexes).

1. 1Topic indicative budget (2026): €75,000,000 allocated to LIFE-2026 (call-wide total by topic).
2. 2Indicative project budget range per awarded SNAP: €10–€30 million (typical project awards expected within that range).
3. 3Indicative number of grants: 3–5 projects for the SNAP topic.
4. 4Expected project duration: typically 60–120 months; each phase normally at least 3 years.

Funding rate and applicant contribution:Maximum LIFE funding rate for SNAPs is 60% of eligible costs. Beneficiaries must provide at least 40% of eligible costs from own resources and/or complementary funding (national, regional, private or other non‑Union sources). Complementary funding from other Union funding sources is expected to be mobilised for complementary measures outside the SNAP, but within the SNAP itself co‑funding may not come from other Union funds.

Project stage, activities and targeted sectors

Project maturity and expected stage:SNAPs target programmes beyond the idea stage — they are strategic, implementation and mobilisation projects. Expected maturity: development/implementation, demonstration, large‑scale roll‑out (phased), capacity building and long‑term mainstreaming. Typical activities: strategic planning/phasing; institutional support and capacity building; mobilising and coordinating complementary finance; concrete conservation and restoration measures (habitat restoration, species measures, green infrastructure); mainstreaming and policy/policy‑rule change; monitoring and evaluation; stakeholder engagement; After‑LIFE sustainability planning.

Target sector:Nature and biodiversity (Nature & Biodiversity sub‑programme) with intersections to environment, climate adaptation/mitigation, water, agriculture/forestry, marine/coastal and green infrastructure where relevant. SNAPs are specifically designed for biodiversity/nature policy and legal implementation (PAFs, national restoration plans and other biodiversity plans/strategies).

Application process, templates and evaluation

Application type and submission method:Two‑stage open call. Stage 1: Concept note (limited page length — Part B max 45 pages at stage 1). Stage 2: Full proposal (invited applicants only; Part B max 200 pages). Submission must be electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System (eGrants). Paper submissions are not accepted. Applicants must use the templates provided in the Submission System; failure to use the correct templates or to comply with layout/page limits may render proposals inadmissible.

Application stages:Two stages — 1) concept note (admissibility and first evaluation); 2) invited full proposal (detailed evaluation including Award criteria: Relevance, Impact, Quality of project design and implementation, Resources and management). The full proposal evaluation follows scoring and thresholds set out in the Call Document and award criteria (see Call Document). Indicative evaluation timeline: concept note results in Nov 2026; full proposal results in June 2027; grant agreement signature around November 2027.

Templates and mandatory annexes:Mandatory documentation and templates available in the Submission System include: Standard application form (LIFE SIP and SNAP Part B PDF template), Detailed budget table (Excel), Participant information template, Maps template, Description of sites, Description of species and habitats, Implementation overview for the plan/strategy/action plan, Complementary funding plan, Complementary funding declaration (signed letters of intent / commitments from competent authorities), Model Grant Agreement (LIFE MGA) and supporting reference documents (LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2024–2027, LIFE Regulation, EU Financial Regulation, Online Manual). The application must include the targeted plan/strategy (or a draft at concept stage) and implementation and complementary funding annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria:The full proposal is evaluated under the award criteria described in the Call Document (Impact, Quality, Resources, etc.). Applicants are required to define, calculate and substantiate expected impacts (LPIs — LIFE Project Indicators) in Part C of the eGrant application and ensure coherence between Part B and Part C. Specific scoring thresholds and pass marks apply as set in section 9 of the Call Document.

Eligibility checks, financial capacity and required evidence

Eligibility and admissibility checks:Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries and must register in the Participant Register (with LEAR appointment and legal entity validation as required). Admissibility checks include correct use of templates, page limits, required annexes and online submission by the deadline. The targeted plan/strategy must exist (draft acceptable at concept stage but final/adopted plan required by full proposal stage) and the coordinator is expected to be the competent authority in most cases.

Financial and operational capacity:Beneficiaries must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources and operational capacity to implement the project. Financial capacity checks may require profit & loss and balance sheet, audit reports and the Participant Register documents. Public bodies and international organisations are normally exempt from financial capacity checks. If financial capacity is insufficient, the granting authority may impose special financial responsibility regimes, request guarantees, prefinancing instalments or other measures.

Nature of support, co‑funding and costs

Nature of support:Monetary (grant funding) to cover eligible project costs. The grant finances eligible direct costs (personnel, subcontracting, travel, equipment, other direct costs) and indirect costs (flat rate, where applicable). The LIFE MGA sets detailed rules for cost eligibility, record‑keeping, certificates, audits and recoveries.

Co‑funding requirement:Yes. SNAPs have a maximum EU funding rate of 60% — beneficiaries must provide the remaining 40% as own contribution and/or complementary funding. Complementary funding sources (non‑LIFE EU funds, national/regional budgets, private funding) must be mobilised and evidenced in the Complementary funding plan and by Complementary funding declaration(s) signed by the competent authority(ies). Mobilised complementary funding must not be already granted or spent before the call launch (24/04/2025) except in strictly justified exceptional cases; generally commitments or letters of intent must be provided at full proposal stage.

Budget and indicative financial figures

Notes on budgets:The call reserves the right not to award all available funds or to redistribute budgets across topics depending on proposals received and evaluation results. The indicative distribution of SNAP co‑funding per Member State is given in LIFE Multiannual Work Programme; applicants should coordinate with national NCPs and other potential applicants. Land purchase, lease and compensation payments are subject to strict eligibility conditions described in the Call Document (long‑term conservation requirements, market price evidence, non‑public ownership within 24 months prior to application, legal protection guarantees, etc.).

Application stages, success rates and typical timelines

Application stages:Two-stage. Stage 1 — concept note (admissibility and first evaluation). Only applicants invited after Stage 1 may submit Stage 2 full proposals. Stage 2 — full proposal: detailed technical and financial application, mandatory annexes including detailed budget table, participant information and complementary funding declaration(s).

Success rates:Not published in the call text. Success rates will depend on the number and quality of proposals received; the call sets indicative numbers of grants and topic budgets but does not provide historical selection ratios. Applicants should assume competitive selection and align proposals to award criteria and documented LIFE priorities to maximise competitiveness.

Indicative timetable (call level):Call opening 21 April 2026; concept note deadline 3 September 2026; concept note evaluation results November 2026 (indicative); consultation/Q&A January–March 2027; full proposal deadline 4 March 2027; full proposal results June 2027; grant agreement signature November 2027. Project start date normally after GA signature and as set in the Data Sheet.

Application forms and templates — structure and guidance

How the forms look and main sections:Part A (administrative forms) is completed online in the Portal: general information, participants, budget summary and declarations. Part B (technical description) is a PDF template downloaded from the Submission System and must be completed and uploaded. Part C (eGrant online) covers LPIs, additional data and project indicators (for full proposals). Mandatory annexes include: Detailed budget table (Excel), Participant information template (one per beneficiary), Implementation overview for the plan/strategy/action plan, Complementary funding plan, Complementary funding declaration(s), Maps, Description of sites/species/habitats, and any additional supporting annexes.

1. 1Part B structure (LIFE SIP & SNAP template): Project summary; Relevance (background, objectives, compliance with LIFE objectives); Impact (quantified targets, LPIs); Implementation (work plan, work packages, milestones, deliverables, stakeholder engagement); Resources (consortium, management, budget overview, risk management); Complementary funding (plan, mobilisation and declarations); Other sections (ethics, security).
2. 2Part A: administrative data entered via the portal screens (proposal title, duration, participants, budget summary, declarations).
3. 3Part C: LPIs and quantitative indicators entered in the Portal. Applicants must ensure coherence between Part B narrative and Part C numeric indicator entries.
4. 4Annexes: use the mandatory Excel/Word templates provided in the Submission System (detailed budget table; participant information; complementary funding plan and complementary funding declaration are mandatory at full proposal stage).
5. 5Page limits: Part B concept note: max 45 pages; Part B full proposal: max 200 pages (do not delete template instructions). Font and layout rules apply (minimum Arial 10, A4, margins at least 15 mm).

Checklist for mandatory annexes at each stage:Concept note stage: targeted plan/strategy (or draft), Implementation overview for the plan/strategy/action plan, Complementary funding plan. Full proposal stage: detailed budget table (Excel), participant information, targeted plan/strategy/action plan (final if available), implementation overview, complementary funding plan, complementary funding declaration(s) (at least one), and any optional annexes (maps, letters of support, co‑financing declarations where relevant).

Evaluation, award and grant management essentials

Award criteria and scoring:Award criteria are described in the Call Document: typically Relevance, Impact, Quality of project design and implementation, and Resources and management. Applicants must provide quantified impact estimates (LPI methodology) and justify baselines, assumptions and calculation steps. The evaluation applies thresholds and weighting as specified in the Call Document.

Legal and financial set‑up:The LIFE Model Grant Agreement (LIFE MGA) applies — Annexes, reporting obligations (continuous reporting, periodic reports and deliverables), eligibility of costs, record‑keeping, audits, certificates on financial statements (CFS) where required, prefinancing and interim/final payment regime, recoveries, and audit/investigation provisions (including OLAF, ECA and EPPO where applicable). Beneficiaries must register and be validated in the Participant Register and comply with LEAR appointment and legal entity validation rules.

Success factors and practical advice

Priority elements evaluators will expect and that applicants must address in detail:clear demonstration of how the proposed SNAP actions directly contribute to full implementation of the targeted plan/strategy (quantified targets and timelines), a credible mobilisation and coordination plan for complementary funding (with letters of intent or confirmed commitments at full proposal stage), involvement of the competent authority responsible for the plan (preferably as coordinator), strong stakeholder engagement and capacity building plan, phased implementation with minimum recommended phase duration of 3 years, concrete conservation and restoration measures where appropriate, robust work packages, realistic budgets and human resources, a comprehensive After‑LIFE sustainability plan, and replicability/transferability strategy.

Support and contact points:Use your national LIFE National Contact Point (NCP) for guidance; consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and call Q&A; use partner search facilities in the Portal; consider attending the CINEA virtual information sessions and LIFE Info Days for advice on call specifics and partner matching. IT Helpdesk and Portal manuals are available for technical submission issues.

Key risks, ineligible situations and common pitfalls

1. 1Failure to provide an adopted plan/strategy or an acceptable draft at concept stage (final plan must be in place by full proposal submission).
2. 2Insufficient evidence or weak justification of mobilisation of complementary funding (letters of intent or confirmed commitments are required at full proposal stage).
3. 3Lack of involvement of competent authority responsible for plan implementation or poor stakeholder engagement strategy.
4. 4Underestimating project management, coordination and administrative burden for multi‑phase strategic projects.
5. 5Non‑compliant templates, wrong page limits or missing mandatory annexes leading to inadmissibility.

Final general summary

What is this opportunity about and how to explain it:The LIFE Strategic Nature Projects (SNAP) call LIFE-2026 finances large‑scale, strategic interventions that drive the full implementation of national, regional or multiregional nature and biodiversity plans and strategies required by EU law or tightly linked to EU biodiversity policy (e.g. PAFs under the Habitats Directive, national restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation, and other plans implementing EU nature/biodiversity objectives). SNAPs combine direct LIFE‑funded interventions (concrete restoration and conservation measures, institutional capacity building, governance reforms and policy mainstreaming) with an explicit mechanism to mobilise and coordinate complementary financing from other sources (national, regional, private and other EU programmes) to deliver the full plan in time. Projects must be designed as phased, long‑term programmes (recommended phase duration ~3 years) and must include the competent authorities and key stakeholders in design and delivery. The call is two‑stage (concept note then invited full proposal), has a high budget envelope for the NAT topic (€75 million indicative in 2026) and funds projects at up to 60% of eligible costs (beneficiaries provide at least 40% co‑funding). The administrative and evidence requirements are substantial: applicants must use the Portal templates, prepare a detailed implementation overview and complementary funding plan, obtain complementary funding declarations or letters of intent, quantify impacts via LIFE Project Indicators and provide a comprehensive After‑LIFE plan. This call targets medium to large consortia able to deliver strategic, replicable and sustainable results that accelerate national and EU biodiversity commitments.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document, templates, annexes and topic page are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for LIFE-2026: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity Overview

The Strategic Nature Projects (SNaP) call is part of the LIFE Programme 2026 and represents a major EU funding opportunity for nature and biodiversity conservation. This call supports the implementation of large-scale nature conservation strategies and plans across Europe, with a total budget of €75 million available for Strategic Nature Projects in 2026.

Call Details and Status

Call Identifier:LIFE-2026

Programme:Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) 2021-2027, Sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity

Call Status:Forthcoming - Opens 21 April 2026

Managing Authority:European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

Funding Amounts and Budget

Total Budget Available:€75,000,000 for Strategic Nature Projects

Grant Range per Project:€10,000,000 to €30,000,000 per project

Funding Rate:Maximum 60% of eligible costs. Beneficiaries must provide 40% co-financing from their own resources or other non-EU funding sources.

Indicative Number of Projects:3 to 5 projects expected to be funded

Project Duration and Timeline

Project Duration:60 to 120 months (5 to 10 years). Projects are structured in phases, with each phase typically lasting at least 3 years to reduce administrative burden.

Call Opening Date:21 April 2026

Stage 1 Deadline (Concept Note):03 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time)

Stage 1 Results:November 2026 (indicative)

Stage 2 Deadline (Full Proposal):04 March 2027 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time)

Stage 2 Results:June 2027 (indicative)

Grant Agreement Signature:November 2027 (indicative)

Eligible Targets and Scope

SNaP projects must target the implementation of one or more of the following plans and strategies: Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs) pursuant to the Habitats Directive; National restoration plans pursuant to the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (2024/1991); or other plans or strategies adopted at international, national, regional or multiregional level by nature and biodiversity authorities that are intrinsically linked to EU nature and biodiversity policy or legislation, such as EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, EU Pollinators Initiative, or Invasive Alien Species Regulation.

A SNaP project does not need to cover all actions foreseen in the targeted plan or strategy, but must include strategic actions to catalyse full implementation and mobilise supplementary commitments and funding. Projects should operate at large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or transnational).

Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicants:Legal entities (public or private bodies) established in EU Member States, overseas countries and territories (OCTs), listed EEA countries, or countries associated with the LIFE Programme

Consortium Requirements:Minimum 2 beneficiaries (not affiliated entities) must participate. The authority responsible for implementation of the targeted plan or strategy should be the coordinator or, in well-justified cases, participate as a beneficiary.

Eligible Entity Types:Public bodies, private organisations, NGOs, universities, research institutions, SMEs, and other legal entities. Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed persons (sole traders).

Coordinator Role:The coordinator must be established in an eligible country and should typically be the authority responsible for implementing the targeted plan or strategy.

Key Project Requirements and Conditions

SNaP projects must demonstrate how they will achieve full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy. By the end of the project, applicants must show at least substantial contribution to implementation and establish mechanisms to ensure full implementation. After project completion, the SNaP should catalyse full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy.

Complementary Funding Mobilisation:A fundamental characteristic of SNaPs is the requirement to mobilise and coordinate other EU, national or private funds for complementary measures implementing the targeted plan or strategy outside the SNaP itself. At least one letter of intent confirming availability or commitment of complementary funding must be submitted with the full proposal. Within the SNaP itself, co-funding cannot come from other EU funding sources.

Stakeholder Involvement:SNaPs must actively involve main stakeholders necessary for plan implementation. Stakeholders should be included as associated beneficiaries or through active participation in implementation. Appropriate involvement is essential for successful implementation and sustainability of results.

Capacity Building:Projects must develop a capacity building plan for relevant stakeholders within and outside public administration. The plan must include structures (human and digital) to retain and store knowledge from training programmes and enable continued training of additional personnel after project completion.

Mainstreaming Objectives:SNaPs must include specific actions to mainstream nature conservation objectives into other policies and financing instruments. This may include adapting other policies or changing rules for other funds to remove drivers leading to failure of the target plan.

Sustainability and After-LIFE Plan:An After-LIFE plan is mandatory, specifying the roadmap, actions and funding envisaged to bring the targeted plan or strategy to full implementation. Competent authorities responsible for strategy implementation should be actively involved in developing and implementing After-LIFE plans.

Phased Implementation:SNaPs are implemented based on a revolving programming mechanism structured in phases. Each phase should normally last at least 3 years, though shorter durations may be justified. This approach reduces administrative burden and allows for adaptive management.

Eligible Activities and Measures

SNaPs may include institutional support and capacity building actions; mobilisation and coordination of additional finance for complementary actions; concrete conservation and restoration measures (particularly where not supported through other EU funding); and actions to change rules for other funds or adapt policies that might lead to failure of the target plan.

For PAF implementation, SNaPs should support further development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network through development, testing, demonstration and application of conservation methods and practices, improving knowledge base, raising awareness and improving administrative capacity. Green Infrastructure actions may be included if referred to in the PAF.

Projects should present comprehensive proposals delivering on core objectives while also delivering benefits for other environmental and climate objectives. Additional benefits can include contributions to EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, good environmental status under Marine Strategy Framework Directive, or Water Framework Directive objectives.

Expected Impacts

By the end of the project, SNaPs should achieve at least substantial contribution to implementation of the targeted plan or strategy and establish mechanisms to ensure full implementation. After project completion (3-5 years after), SNaPs should catalyse full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy.

Expected impacts include significant contribution to favourable conservation status of natural habitats and species of EU importance maintained and/or restored as per measures identified in the target plan, and significant contribution to reduction of pressures on habitats and species and restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Application Process and Submission

Two-Stage Process:Stage 1 requires submission of a concept note (maximum 45 pages). Only proposals invited after Stage 1 evaluation are admissible for Stage 2, which requires submission of a full proposal (maximum 200 pages).

Submission Method:All proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Paper submissions are not accepted.

Required Documents:Application Form Part A (administrative information); Application Form Part B (technical description); targeted plan or strategy; implementation overview for the plan or strategy; complementary funding plan; detailed budget table; participant information; and at least one complementary funding declaration.

Project Acronym:The project acronym must include the word LIFE.

Language:Proposals may be submitted in any official EU language, though English is strongly recommended for efficiency.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are evaluated based on relevance, impact, implementation quality, and resources. Relevance assessment includes background, project objectives, compliance with LIFE programme objectives, concept and methodology, and upscaling of other EU-funded projects. Impact assessment evaluates impact and ambition, sustainability and exploitation of results, and catalytic potential for replication and upscaling.

Implementation assessment covers work plan quality, work packages and activities, stakeholder engagement, impact monitoring and evaluation, communication and dissemination, and consortium setup. Resources assessment evaluates consortium composition, project management, budget adequacy, and risk management.

Special Conditions and Restrictions

Targeted Plan Requirement:A full proposal cannot be submitted without an approved or adopted PAF or other eligible plan. At Stage 1, a draft version may be submitted if the final version is not available. At Stage 2, the targeted plan must be approved by relevant authorities.

Ongoing Activities:Annual or recurring habitat management actions already ongoing before project start are not eligible. New recurring management actions established during the project require justification for LIFE financing and explanation of continuation funding after project end.

Land Purchase Eligibility:Land purchase is eligible only if clearly related to project objectives, contributes to improving or restoring Natura 2000 network integrity, is the most cost-effective way to achieve conservation outcomes, and is reserved long-term for conservation purposes through legal protection. Purchased land must be subject to specific restoration or active management during the project.

Polluter Pays Principle:LIFE funding will not co-finance clean-up actions derived from application of the polluter pays principle.

Financial and Operational Capacity

Applicants must have stable and sufficient resources to successfully implement projects and contribute their share. Financial capacity checks are normally conducted for coordinators, except for public bodies or international organisations, or if the requested grant amount does not exceed €60,000. If financial capacity is not satisfactory, the granting authority may require further information, enhanced financial responsibility regimes, prefinancing paid in instalments, prefinancing guarantees, or propose no prefinancing.

Applicants must have the know-how, qualifications and resources to successfully implement projects, including sufficient experience in projects of comparable size and nature. This capacity is assessed together with the Resources award criterion.

Geographic Scope and Eligible Countries

Proposals must relate to activities taking place in eligible countries:EU Member States, overseas countries and territories, listed EEA countries, and countries associated with the LIFE Programme. Activities outside eligible countries are permitted only if necessary to achieve EU environmental and climate objectives and ensure effectiveness of interventions within eligible countries.

Key Contacts and Support

National Contact Points (NCPs):Applicants are encouraged to contact their National Contact Point for support in proposal preparation. NCPs can be added as contact persons in the application.

IT Helpdesk:For technical questions regarding the Portal, forgotten passwords, access rights, or submission issues, contact the IT helpdesk.

Online Manual:A step-by-step online guide is available through the Portal for proposal preparation, evaluation, and project reporting.

LIFE Database:Applicants are encouraged to consult the LIFE database to review previously funded projects for examples of successful proposals and coordinated complementary funds.

Important Considerations for Applicants

The workload linked to management, coordination and reporting for SNaP projects is frequently underestimated by applicants. Sufficient human resources should be allocated from both the coordinator and other beneficiaries. Technical project management may be partially outsourced, provided the coordinating beneficiary retains full and day-to-day control. Project management staff should have previous experience in project management, and the project manager should ideally be employed full-time.

A coordination or working group with managers of relevant complementary funds is expected to be established to improve long-term mobilisation and coordination of these funds for targeted plan or strategy implementation. SNaPs are encouraged to organise platform meetings in coordination with other SNaPs on similar topics to exchange experiences and align with policy priorities.

Applicants must confirm prior to submission that actions proposed within the SNaP are not already or could not be more appropriately funded through other EU funds. Double funding from the EU budget is strictly prohibited except under EU Synergies actions.

Footnotes

1. 1For detailed information on eligible countries, see the list of participating countries in the LIFE Programme guidance documents available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.