Press Release: LIFE-Third Countries 2006: Commission grants EUR 6.5 million to 16 environment projects in neighbouring countries

The European Commission has approved funding for 16 new environment projects in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions, under the LIFE-Third Countries programme 2006. These projects will be implemented in Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey, including two international projects. They represent a total investment of nearly €10 million - of which over 60% comes from the EU. The projects aim to improve the environment in these countries and support sustainable development by creating or strengthening institutions, policies, monitoring tools, training facilities, networks, and databases. They address major environmental issues, from waste management and air pollution prevention and control, to river basin management and sustainable tourism, as well as promoting harmonisation with EU environmental regulations.