technical Assistance preparation of CLIMA SIPs

Call LIFE-2026 provides technical assistance grants to prepare Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) proposals under the LIFE Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme, with an indicative topic budget of €200,000 and a maximum EU contribution per project of €70,000 at a funding rate of 60% of eligible costs. Projects may run up to 24 months and must deliver a SIP proposal for the dedicated LIFE SIP call; eligible activities include staffing, consultancy, data collection, stakeholder engagement and financing plan development. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States, EEA countries or countries associated to the LIFE Programme and applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The call opens 21 April 2026 and the single-stage submission deadline is 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

What it funds

Grants to prepare a full Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) proposal under the LIFE sub-programme Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Funded preparation activities include staffing and training, external expertise for proposal development, data collection, financing plans, stakeholder mapping and engagement, coordination mechanisms and drafting of SIP concept notes and full proposals that target eligible national, regional, transnational or urban climate plans and strategies.

Eligible target plans and strategies

Examples of eligible plans:National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) and Long-Term Strategies, national or regional adaptation strategies/plans, urban or community climate-neutral or resilience action plans (including climate-neutral cities and SUMPs), and national/regional/sectoral greenhouse gas mitigation strategies or low-carbon roadmaps. Projects should target a large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or trans‑national) and include stakeholder involvement and a funding coordination mechanism.

Who can apply

Public or private legal entities established in eligible countries (EU Member States, overseas territories where applicable, and third countries associated to the LIFE programme). Coordinators should be the authority responsible for the targeted plan/strategy where possible; affiliated entities, associated partners and subcontractors may participate. Natural persons are not eligible.

Funding rate:Grants reimburse eligible costs at up to 60% of project eligible costs.

Indicative financial envelope and award:Topic budget for CLIMA SIP technical assistance: €200,000. Maximum grant amounts are subject to the call and award decision; TA-PP projects normally support preparation of a SIP to be submitted in the subsequent SIP call.

1. 1Who: public authorities, research organisations, NGOs, and other legal entities established in eligible countries.
2. 2What: costs for personnel, subcontracting, travel, equipment (subject to depreciation rules), and other direct costs necessary to prepare a SIP proposal.
3. 3When: single-stage call — opening 21 April 2026; submission deadline 22 September 2026 (17:00 Brussels time).
4. 4Duration: TA-PP projects should not exceed 24 months and aim to deliver a SIP full proposal for the next LIFE SIP call.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; proposals must follow the LIFE TA-PP templates and annex requirements and comply with admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity checks. Proposals are evaluated on relevance, quality and resources (60-point scale, minimum overall threshold 35).

How to apply:Submit a full TA-PP proposal via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) application form and annexes. Use the Participant Register (PICs) and consult the call documents and Online Manual on the Portal Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Portal call page and full call documentation, templates and submission tools are available at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity summary

Call identifier:LIFE-2026. Programme: Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). Type of action: LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) under LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based (LIFE-AG) model. Purpose: provide technical and financial support for preparing a full Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) proposal under the LIFE sub-programme Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Opening date: 21 April 2026. Submission deadline: 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage). Indicative available budget for this topic: €200,000. Expected project duration: up to 24 months. Funding rate: 60% of eligible costs. Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants are required to use the Application Form Part A (online) and Part B (PDF template uploaded) and the detailed budget table (annex).

Scope and eligible SIP types:This Technical Assistance (TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP) provides grants to prepare and submit a Climate SIP proposal that implements one of the following: National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) including Long-Term Strategies (LTS) under Regulation (EU) 2018/1999; national adaptation strategies and plans pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation 2021/1119 (European Climate Law) or regional adaptation strategies/action plans; urban or community-based action plans pioneering the transition to climate neutrality and/or climate resilience (including climate-neutral cities actions, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans and Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities-related plans); national, regional or industry/sector greenhouse gas mitigation strategies or low-carbon economy roadmaps. The proposal must target large territorial scales (regional, multi-regional, national, trans-national), involve all concerned stakeholders and include a coordination mechanism for funding complementary measures needed for full implementation.

Key administrative and procedural information

One-stage submission. Applicants must prepare Part A (online) and Part B (technical description) using the official templates in the Submission System. Part B page limit: up to 30 pages for Part B in the Submission System (call document indicates 30 pages for Part B; application form templates and Part B structure available in Submission System). Mandatory annexes: detailed budget table (Excel), participant information (word template), optional letters of support and other annexes. The coordinator and all beneficiaries/affiliated entities must be registered in the Participant Register and validated prior to signature. Applications must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System; paper submissions are not accepted. Applicants should consult Portal guidance and CINEA/LIFE FAQs; National Contact Points (NCPs) are encouraged to be added as contacts in the Participants step to facilitate support ¹.

Budget and expected number of awards:Topic budget for TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP: €200,000 (total call budget €1,000,000 split across three TA-PP topics). The Call document indicates a maximum EU contribution per project is subject to the funding rate (60%) and the estimated budgets; the call table shows Maximum EU contribution expected per project is up to €70,000 (this figure is the maximum grant amount per selected TA-PP project as indicated in the call tables). Projects are expected to have a duration of up to 24 months.

Eligibility and applicants

Eligible applicants:legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories), EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme. Coordinator must be established in an eligible country. Natural persons (except self-employed sole traders when eligible) are not eligible. International organisations may participate. Entities from third countries not associated to LIFE may exceptionally participate if essential for the action but generally bear their own costs. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and pass legal entity validation (LEAR appointment) and financial capacity checks where required. Specific eligibility rules and consortium composition requirements are set out in section 6 of the Call document and in the Application Form templates.

Eligible activities under TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP:Activities must be new and additional and directly support the preparation and submission of a high-quality SIP concept note and full proposal for the 2027 LIFE SIP call under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme. Eligible preparatory activities (non-exhaustive): recruitment of new personnel and training for SIP development; contracting external expertise for concept note and full proposal development; data collection and gap analyses; mapping financing sources and complementary measures; development of financing plans and funding coordination mechanisms; stakeholder engagement, networking and consultation processes; development, finalisation and submission of SIP concept note and full proposal; preparatory studies and technical assessments necessary to prepare the full SIP. Research activities, actions relating to statutory responsibilities of the competent authority, activities outside project duration and activities not aligned with SIP objectives are not eligible.

Structured classification (answers to requested questions)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: public authorities (national/regional/local authorities and competent climate authorities), municipalities and multi-city coalitions, research organisations and universities, NGOs and civil society organisations, SMEs and private companies (consultants, technical assistance providers), public-private partnerships and international organisations. The call specifically expects the authority responsible for the targeted plan/strategy to participate in the consortium (ideally as coordinator). Affiliated entities and associated partners may participate as described in the call documentation.
2. 2Funding Type: grant — LIFE Project Grants (budget-based mixed actual cost grant with possible unit cost and flat-rate elements per the LIFE MGA and Annexes).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: consortium recommended; coordinator is mandatory. The call anticipates the competent authority responsible for the targeted plan/strategy to participate and in principle act as coordinator; single-beneficiary applications are possible when appropriate but the consortium model is expected for territorial-scale SIPs. Therefore, consortium is the typical requirement.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): applicants must be established in eligible countries: EU Member States, EEA and countries associated to LIFE. Activities must take place mainly in eligible countries, although limited activities outside may be allowed if necessary for achieving objectives (e.g., transboundary rivers).
5. 5Target Sector: climate policy and planning, climate mitigation and adaptation, energy & long-term strategies, urban planning and sustainable mobility, public administration and governance, environmental management. Thematic focus: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (sub-programme).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: EU Member States (general). The call text refers to Member States and third countries associated to the LIFE Programme. No single country list is provided in the topic description beyond these categories.
7. 7Project Stage: preparation / strategic planning / proposal development stage. This TA grant is for writing and developing the SIP concept and full proposal (pre-submission preparatory stage).
8. 8Funding Amount: topic budget €200,000 total. Expected maximum EU contribution per project indicated in call budget table is €70,000 (the call document shows 'Maximum EU contribution Expected project duration €70,000' for each topic item). Funding rate: 60% of eligible costs.
9. 9Application Type: open call — single-stage. Submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal with a single submission window (opening 21 April 2026, deadline 22 September 2026).
10. 10Nature of Support: monetary — EU grant funding (financial support). No non-financial services are provided by this call directly, though beneficiaries will receive technical support through funded activities which may include procurement of consultancy services paid from the grant budget.
11. 11Application Stages: 1 stage (single-stage submission for TA project). The subsequent SIP submission is a separate LIFE SIP call with a two-stage procedure (concept note then full proposal) and is not part of this TA submission process; the TA must deliver a SIP ready for that SIP call.
12. 12Success Rates: not specified. The call budget and indicative number of grants are small (€200,000 topic budget and per-project maximum contribution around €70,000), implying a limited number of awards (estimate: 2–3 awards at that budget level for CLIMA topic, but the call document states indicative numbers at call level and reserves the right to redistribute funds). Success rate depends on number and quality of applications and cannot be precisely determined from the call text.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: yes — 40% co-financing required from other sources (applicant own funds, third-party contributions or other public/private funds), since the funding rate is 60%. The beneficiary must demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity.
14. 14Templates: application forms are provided in the Submission System. Required templates include: Application Form Part A (online administrative data and summarised budget), Application Form Part B (technical description — TAPP SIP technical template for LIFE SIP/SNAP; include specific sections: relevance, impact, implementation, resources, complementary funding, etc.), Detailed Budget Table (Excel annex; personnel effort and cost breakdown per beneficiary and work package), Participant Information form (word template), Model Grant Agreement (LIFE MGA), and optional Letters of Support. Part B structure follows the LIFE SIP & SNAP template: Project summary, 1 Relevance (background, objectives, methodology), 2 Impact (expected quantified impact, sustainability, replication), 3 Implementation (work plan, work packages, deliverables, milestones, timetable, stakeholder engagement), 4 Resources (consortium, management, green management, budget), 5 Complementary funding (mapping of funding and coordination mechanism), 6 Other (ethics, security), 7 Declarations. Detailed budget table includes personnel person-months per WP, personnel cost categories, subcontracting, other direct costs (travel, equipment, other goods & services), indirect costs flat-rate (7%), and rules on personnel unit cost calculations and depreciation for equipment. Use official templates from the Submission System; proposals exceeding page limits will be truncated.

Evaluation, award criteria and thresholds

Evaluation:one-stage submission followed by eligibility checks and evaluation by an evaluation committee. Applications checked for admissibility (page limits, templates) and eligibility (countries, participants, activities). Award criteria and scoring (full proposals): Relevance (0–20 points), Quality (0–20), Resources (0–20). Individual thresholds: minimum 10 points per criterion. Overall threshold: 35/60 points. Tie-breaking: priority by score on Relevance, then Quality, then Resources. After invitation to grant preparation, legal entity validation and financial capacity checks apply; prefinancing guarantees may be requested where appropriate.

Assessment focus for CLIMA SIP TA projects:Evaluators will focus on: clarity and appropriateness of the SIP concept to implement the targeted climate plan/strategy; territorial scale and impact potential; stakeholder engagement strategy and governance for funding coordination; feasibility and quality of the workplan, timing and deliverables to deliver a high-quality SIP full proposal; personnel and consortium competence; realistic budget and value for money; mechanisms to secure complementary funding and to mobilise additional financing; arrangements ensuring the coordinating authority will submit the SIP to the LIFE SIP call within the required timeframe.

Costs, eligible cost rules and finance management

The grant is budget-based (mixed actual cost grant) and reimburses eligible costs actually incurred, with certain unit cost, flat-rate and depreciation rules per the LIFE Model Grant Agreement (MGA). Budget categories: A Personnel (A1 employees, A2 natural persons under direct contract, A3 seconded persons, A4 SME owners/natural person beneficiaries unit costs, A5 volunteers unit costs where allowed), B Subcontracting, C Purchase costs (C1 travel & subsistence — actual costs; C2 equipment — normally depreciation; C3 other goods, works & services), D Other cost categories (financial support to third parties only if explicitly allowed; land purchase allowed only under strict conditions), E Indirect costs flat-rate (7% of eligible direct costs excluding volunteers and excluded categories). Non-deductible VAT may be eligible where it cannot be recovered. Personnel costs must be supported by time records or equivalent. Subcontracting should be exceptional and follow best-value procurement practices; subcontracting limits may apply and must be justified in Part B and Annexes. Financial statements and certificates (CFS) may be requested depending on thresholds (Data Sheet).

Rules on complementary funding and SIP submission:A core requirement for the SIP full proposal is a coordination mechanism for funding complementary measures necessary for full implementation of the targeted plan/strategy. TA projects must map complementary actions, identify funding sources (EU, national, regional, private) and prepare financing plans. The TA project must result in submission by the coordinating beneficiary of the full SIP proposal to the dedicated LIFE SIP call before the TA project end date. The SIP full proposal follows a separate two-stage LIFE SIP call (concept note then full proposal). If the final SIP proposal prepared during the TA-PP fails eligibility or quality tests due to beneficiary poor performance or negligence, the granting authority may recover prefinancing and declare TA costs ineligible.

How to apply and practical tips

Register early in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the Participant Register (obtain PICs and LEAR validation). Use the official templates provided in the Submission System; do not use the versions on the topic page for upload (they are for information only). Fill Part A (online) and download, complete and re-upload Part B PDF and the required annexes. Respect page limits and formatting rules (font, margins). Provide a coherent budget and detailed budget table that matches the online summarised budget. Add National Contact Points in the Participants step as Contact Persons to facilitate advice. Allow sufficient time before the deadline to avoid IT or validation delays. For IT issues contact the IT Helpdesk; for call content contact CINEA LIFE enquiries within deadlines (submit queries at least 7 days before the deadline).

1. 1Start registration and PIC/LEAR validation early (can take time).
2. 2Use official templates from the Submission System and respect Part B page limits.
3. 3Ensure the coordinator is the authority responsible for the plan/strategy or that the authority is in the consortium and has mandated the coordinator.
4. 4Demonstrate clear stakeholder involvement and a funding coordination mechanism for complementary measures.
5. 5Provide a realistic work plan, deliverables and milestones aligned to the SIP call timeline.
6. 6Provide detailed personnel effort (person-months) per work package and the detailed budget table.
7. 7Map complementary funding sources and include letters of support where possible.

Risk points and common causes of ineligibility

Common pitfalls:failure to use correct templates or exceed page limits (inadmissible), coordinator not established in an eligible country, targeted plan/strategy not eligible or not formally adopted by the full-proposal submission deadline, weak stakeholder involvement or lacking coordination mechanism for complementary funding, insufficient financial or operational capacity, poor alignment between budget and activities, attempting to declare costs outside the project duration, double-funding of costs already declared or funded by other EU programmes. TA activities must be new and additional to existing efforts.

Contact and support resources:Primary submission system and documents: Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System (application templates, call document, LIFE MGA, annotated grant agreement, online manual). For TA-PP call queries: CINEA LIFE enquiries (email CINEA-LIFE-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu) and Portal IT Helpdesk for technical problems. Use National Contact Points for national-level support and guidance. Portal and CINEA LIFE pages provide FAQs, info days and recorded webinars. Applicants are encouraged to consult the LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2025-2027 and LIFE Regulation 2021/783 for policy context.

Final summary — what is this opportunity about and how to explain it?

This call offers targeted technical assistance grants under LIFE to prepare Strategic Integrated Project proposals that will implement major climate plans and strategies at scale (national, regional, multi-regional or trans-national levels) across the EU and associated countries. The TA grant finances the preparatory work needed to write a high-quality SIP full proposal to be submitted to the LIFE SIP call in 2027. Fundable activities include hiring or training staff responsible for proposal preparation, contracting experts, gathering technical and financing evidence, mapping and engaging stakeholders, developing financing plans and establishing coordination mechanisms for complementary funding required for full implementation. The TA projects are short (up to 24 months), provide up to 60% co-financing (applicants must cover the remaining 40%), and must result in the coordinating beneficiary submitting the full SIP proposal before the TA project end. The selection is competitive, based on relevance to LIFE climate priorities, quality of methodology and workplan, and adequacy of resources and budgets. Successful applicants will obtain EU grant funding to cover the preparatory phase, enabling authorities and consortia to assemble the technical, institutional and financial foundations necessary to deliver large-scale climate investments and actions through a future SIP.

For application submission, use the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System, complete Part A online, and upload Part B and mandatory annexes using the official templates in the portal. Begin registration and LEAR/PIC validation early, coordinate with your National Contact Point for support and ensure the authority responsible for the targeted plan/strategy is engaged in the consortium as coordinator or partner.

Key reference:full call documentation, application templates and life programme guidance are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and CINEA LIFE pages; applicants should consult these primary sources for full legal and procedural detail and for the exact templates to upload ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Funding & Tenders Portal topic page, call documents, templates and Submission System: EU Funding & Tenders Portal - LIFE-2026-TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This call provides financial support for the preparation of Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) proposals under the LIFE Programme's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme. The Technical Assistance (TA-PP) projects are designed to help authorities and organisations prepare high-quality, eligible SIP proposals that will be submitted to a dedicated LIFE call for SIPs in 2027.

Call Details

Call Reference:LIFE-2026

Opening Date:21 April 2026

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

Programme:Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) 2021-2027

Type of Action:LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG)

Funding Information

Total Call Budget:€200,000 for CLIMA-SIP topic (part of €1,000,000 total for all three TA-PP topics)

Maximum EU Contribution per Project:€70,000

Funding Rate:60% of eligible costs

Project Duration:Maximum 24 months

Eligible Target Plans and Strategies

Technical Assistance projects must support the preparation of SIP proposals targeting one or more of the following climate-related plans and strategies:

• National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) pursuant to EU Regulation 2018/1999 on the governance of the energy union and climate action
• National adaptation strategies and plans pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation 2021/1119 (European Climate Law), or regional adaptation strategies or action plans
• Urban or community-based action plans pioneering the transition to a climate neutral and/or climate resilient society, including climate-neutral cities plans and actions, for instance in the context of the EU Mission Climate neutral and smart cities and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans
• National, regional or industry-/sector-specific greenhouse gas mitigation strategies or plans or economy roadmaps contributing to climate neutrality

Scope and Eligible Activities

The overall objective of a TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP project is to prepare a high-quality, eligible SIP proposal for submission to the dedicated LIFE call for SIPs under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme. All activities must be new and additional to work undertaken prior to the TA-PP proposal submission and must directly support the objective of writing an SIP proposal.

Eligible activities may include (non-exhaustive list):

• Recruitment of new personnel and training for SIP proposal development and writing
• Contracting external assistance for SIP concept note and full proposal development and/or writing
• Collecting data for SIP preparation (e.g., on funding sources)
• Developing financing plans if not already part of the targeted action plan or strategy
• Mapping complementary actions and potential funding sources
• Networking, consultation, and coordination for SIP preparation and writing
• Mapping and engaging stakeholders to be involved in the forthcoming related strategic integrated project
• Writing, preparation and submission of a SIP concept note and full proposal

Activities that are NOT eligible include research activities, activities relating to statutory responsibilities of competent authorities, activities carried out outside the project duration, and activities not clearly aligned with the TA-PP project objectives and corresponding SIP.

Project Requirements

Proposed SIP projects must:

• Target a large territorial scale, in particular regional, multiregional, national, or transnational. A multi-city approach or smaller territorial scale may be acceptable if the project delivers substantial impact
• Involve all concerned stakeholders
• Include a coordination mechanism for funding supporting complementary measures necessary for the full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy
• Be submitted as a full proposal to a dedicated LIFE call for SIPs before the end of the TA-PP project
• Demonstrate Union interest by contributing to at least one general objective of the LIFE Programme

The competent authorities responsible for the plans and/or strategy implementation must participate in the SIP proposals, either as applicants or, in duly justified cases, as project partners.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in one of the following:

• EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
• Listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme
• Countries in ongoing negotiations for association to the LIFE Programme (if association agreement enters into force before grant signature)

The coordinator must be established in an eligible country. Natural persons are not eligible. Entities from other countries may exceptionally participate if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action.

Consortium Composition

Technical Assistance projects are designed to support the authorities responsible for implementing the targeted plans, strategies, or action plans. The authority responsible for the plan or strategy should in principle participate as coordinator. In well-justified cases, it may participate as a partner but must in any case be part of the TA-PP project consortium.

Proposals must be submitted by at least one applicant from an eligible country. Consortia may include beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, and subcontractors as appropriate.

Budget and Cost Eligibility

The grant is a budget-based mixed actual cost grant with the following eligible cost categories:

• Personnel costs (employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners, and volunteers where applicable)
• Subcontracting costs
• Purchase costs (travel and subsistence, equipment, other goods/works/services)
• Indirect costs at a flat-rate of 7% of eligible direct costs

Ineligible costs include financial support to third parties, land purchase, research activities, statutory responsibilities of competent authorities, and costs declared under other EU grants (except in Synergy actions or combined with operating grants).

Budget Flexibility:Budget transfers between participants and budget categories are allowed without amendment, provided they do not imply substantive changes to the action description. Changes to volunteer costs, lump sum categories, or higher funding rate categories require amendments.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria, each scored out of 20 points:

• Relevance: Relevance to LIFE sub-programme objectives and call priorities; soundness of intervention logic
• Quality: Clarity, relevance and feasibility of work plan; appropriate geographic focus; identification and mobilisation of relevant stakeholders
• Resources: Project team composition and expertise; appropriateness of budget and resources; budget transparency; environmental impact considerations; value for money

Minimum pass score per criterion:10 points. Overall minimum pass score: 35 points. Maximum total score: 60 points.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline. Paper submissions are not accepted. The application consists of:

• Part A: Administrative information (filled directly online)
• Part B: Technical description (maximum 30 pages, downloaded template, uploaded as PDF)
• Part C: Additional project data (filled directly online)
• Mandatory annexes: Detailed budget table, participant information, optional letters of support

Proposals must include a project acronym containing the word LIFE. All applicants must be registered in the Participant Register before submission.

Grant Agreement and Implementation

Grant Form:Budget-based mixed actual cost grant (LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based)

Payment Schedule:Initial prefinancing (60% of maximum grant amount) paid 30 days from entry into force or financial guarantee, whichever is latest. Final payment made 90 days after receiving final periodic report.

Prefinancing Guarantee:May be required during grant preparation; amount normally equal to or lower than prefinancing. Must be in euro from an approved bank/financial institution in an EU Member State.

Reporting Requirements:Continuous reporting via Portal tool; periodic reports (technical and financial) submitted 60 days after end of reporting period. Financial statements must detail eligible costs by budget category.

Record-Keeping:Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents for 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants not exceeding €60,000).

Key Obligations and Conditions

Beneficiaries must:

• Implement the action as described in the grant agreement and in compliance with all obligations and applicable EU, international and national law
• Maintain eligibility under the LIFE Programme for the entire action duration
• Properly implement the action under their own responsibility; if relying on affiliated entities or other participants, they retain sole responsibility
• Prevent conflicts of interest and immediately notify the granting authority of any situations constituting or likely to lead to conflicts
• Keep sensitive information confidential during implementation and for at least 5 years after final payment
• Respect EU values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights
• Process personal data in compliance with applicable EU, international and national law
• Promote the action and its results through targeted communication and dissemination activities
• Display the European flag and funding statement in all communication activities related to the action
• Provide accurate, complete and timely information and reports as requested
• Keep Participant Register information up to date at all times
• Immediately inform the granting authority of any events or circumstances affecting the action or EU financial interests

Important Conditions and Restrictions

Applicants must ensure that:

• The targeted plan or strategy is one of the eligible types listed in the call
• The plan or strategy will be formally adopted by the full proposal submission deadline for the SIP (typically before the end of the TA-PP project)
• The SIP proposal prepared within the TA-PP project will be eligible for LIFE funding and demonstrate good quality; if the final SIP proposal fails to meet eligibility and quality standards due to beneficiary poor performance, negligence or errors, the granting authority reserves the right to recover pre-financing and declare all TA-PP project costs ineligible
• No double funding occurs; costs cannot be declared under two EU grants except in Synergy actions or when combined with operating grants
• Grants do not produce profit (surplus of revenues plus EU grant over costs); for-profit organisations must declare revenues and any profit will be deducted from the final grant
• All participants comply with exclusion grounds and do not fall within situations barring them from receiving EU funding (bankruptcy, tax/social security breaches, professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, etc.)
• Sufficient financial and operational capacity exists to implement the project

Support and Guidance

Applicants are encouraged to consult the following resources:

• LIFE Programme website FAQs
• National Contact Points (NCPs) for individual assistance
• EU Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and Online Manual
• LIFE Info Days (28-30 April 2026) with virtual information sessions
• IT Helpdesk for technical submission questions
• CINEA-LIFE-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu for non-IT related questions (submit at least 7 days before deadline)

Timeline and Key Dates

Additional Information

Applicants should note that information about EU grants awarded is published annually on the Europa website, including beneficiary names, addresses, purpose of the grant, and maximum amount awarded. Publication can exceptionally be waived if there is a risk that disclosure could jeopardise rights and freedoms or harm commercial interests. ¹

The LIFE Programme has funded 4,170 projects over 22 years with €3.4 billion in support for environment and climate action. This TA-PP call is part of the broader LIFE 2026 calls which make more than €600 million available across all LIFE sub-programmes for nature conservation, environmental protection, climate action, and clean energy transition.

For more detailed information on the LIFE Programme, eligible countries, and specific call conditions, applicants should consult the official call document and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. ²

Footnotes

1. 1In accordance with Article 38 of the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, information about EU grants awarded is published each year on the Europa website.
2. 2Full call documentation including the Call document, Model Grant Agreement, Application Form templates, and Online Manual are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal at EU Funding & Tenders Portal.