LIFE Programms in Cyprus ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ LIFE PROGRAMME IN CYPRUS The Life Program is the most important Financial Instrument for the Environment and has as its main purpose the financing and assistance of the implementation of the Community environmental policy and legislation, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable development. After more than 22 years € 3.4 billion. and 4,170 LIFE projects, the Program continues to fund nature, environment and climate protection actions. For the period 2014 - 2020 the total budget of the LIFE Program is € 3.46 billion. In addition to the traditional LIFE projects, during the new Programming Period 2014 - 2020 there are four new types of projects (Integrated Projects, Technical Assistance Projects, Capacity Development Projects and Preparatory Projects), as well as two financial instruments (Physical and Capital Funding Mechanism Energy Efficiency Funding). The two Sub-Programs In the new programming period there are two Sub-Programs, the "Environment" Sub-Program and the "Climate Action" Sub-Program. The "Environment" sub-program covers three priority areas: -The priority area "Environment and Resource Efficiency" which is expected to develop, test and present best practices, solutions and integrated approaches to environmental challenges, and to improve the relevant knowledge base. - The priority area "Nature and Biodiversity" which is expected to develop, test and present best practices, solutions and integrated approaches that will contribute to the development and implementation of nature and biodiversity policy and legislation, and to improve the relevant based on knowledge. - The priority area "Environmental Governance and Information" which is expected to promote environmental awareness, support the communication, management and dissemination of environmental information and promote the improvement of environmental governance through the involvement of stakeholders. The "Climate Action" sub-program has three priority areas: - The priority area "Climate Change Mitigation" which is expected to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly by contributing to the implementation and development of relevant policies and legislation, by improving the knowledge base, the development of integrated approaches, and the development and demonstration of innovative technologies, systems, methods and tools. - The priority area "Adaptation to Climate Change" which is expected to support efforts to increase resilience to climate change, in particular by contributing to the implementation and development of relevant policies and legislation, by improving the knowledge base, the development of integrated approaches, as well as the development and demonstration of innovative technologies, systems, methods and tools. - The priority area "Climate Governance and Information" which is expected to promote climate awareness, support communication, management and dissemination of climate information, promote more effective compliance with and improvement of climate legislation climate governance by expanding stakeholder involvement. LIFE project styles There are several types of projects as follows: - Best practice projects apply appropriate, cost-effective and innovative technologies, methods and approaches, taking into account the specific context of the project. - Demonstration projects implement, test, evaluate and disseminate actions, methodologies or approaches, which are new or unknown in relation to the specific context of the project, such as the geographical, ecological, socio-economic context, and this will could be applied elsewhere in similar circumstances. - Pilot projects apply a technique or method that has not been applied or tested in the past or elsewhere, which offers potential environmental or climatic advantages over existing practices and can then be applied on a larger scale to similar situations. - Information, awareness and dissemination projects support communication, information dissemination and environmental and Climate Action Awareness. The maximum co-financing rate for these four types of projects is 60% for the period 2014-2017 and 55% for the period 2018-2020. The LIFE Nature and Biodiversity projects, however, have a rate of 60% for the entire period 2014-2020, and up to 75% if they concern endangered species or first priority habitats. Integrated Projects implement on a large geographical scale (regional, multi-regional, national, transnational) environmental or climate projects or strategies required by specific Union environmental or climate legislation, mainly in the fields of nature, water, and mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Ensure the involvement of stakeholders and promote coordination with and mobilization of at least one other relevant source of Union or national or private funding. Maximum co-financing rate 60%. Technical Assistance Projects provide action grants to assist applicants in completing completed projects. Maximum co-financing rate 60%. Capacity Building Projects provide action grants that will allow Member States to participate more effectively in the LIFE program. Maximum co-financing rate 100%. Preparatory Projects support specific needs for the development and implementation of Union environmental and climate policy and legislation. Maximum co-financing rate 60%. Operational Grants support the operational and administrative costs of non-profit organizations active in the field of environment and climate action at European Union level. Maximum co-financing rate 70%. The Equity Financing Facility (NCFF) is a new financing instrument that will provide financing opportunities in the form of equity loans or equity investments for pilot projects that generate revenue or cost savings that promote the retention of equity, including climate change. The Private Efficiency Financing Instrument (PF4EE) is a new financial instrument that will provide loans for investments in energy efficiency projects that are prioritized by the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans. Participation right Any public or private body based in the EU can benefit from the LIFE program by submitting a proposal as a beneficiary coordinator or as a co-beneficiary. You can be a beneficiary coordinator if you are established outside the EU, only if your country has a specific agreement with the EU (see Article 5 of the LIFE Regulation). Legal entities outside the EU can only be co-beneficiaries if the beneficiary coordinator is established within the EU and the activities for which they are responsible and which take place outside the EU are necessary to achieve the EU environmental / climate objectives. and to ensure it the effectiveness of interventions within the EU (see Article 6). LIFE Cyclamen project The Cyclamen project is part of the LIFE Capacity Building program and will run for 48 months starting from 12/15/2015. Coordinator and lead beneficiary of the project is the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. The Cyclamen project aims to enhance the support services offered to potential Cypriot applicants in the LIFE Program, in order to improve their performance, both in terms of numbers and quality of proposals. Management of the LIFE Program The LIFE Program is managed by the European Commission (Directorate-General for the Environment and Directorate-General for Climate Action). The Commission has entrusted the implementation of many components of the LIFE program to the Small and Medium Enterprises Executive Agency (EASME). External selection, monitoring and communication teams assist the Commission and EASME. The European Investment Bank manages the two new financial instruments (MFIs and IHEA). For more Information contact Mrs. Marilena Papastavrou Tel: +35722408926 Emai: mpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy