Special Report on the sustainability and the Commission’s management of the LIFE-Nature projects

In this special report the European Court of Auditors assessed the effectiveness of the European Commission’s management of the grants paid to LIFE-Nature projects in terms of the sustainability of their results. LIFE-Nature, a component of LIFE, co-finances projects in the Member States, mainly in relation to Natura 2000 sites, in favour of the conservation of species and habitats.

Overall, the projects audited have contributed to the conservation of the targeted species and habitats, namely in the Natura 2000 sites, thus contributing to the Member States’ efforts and supporting the volunteer work and commitment of EU citizens and their associations in favour of biodiversity conservation. However, the audit concluded that measures financed by LIFE-Nature are not, as yet, sufficiently safeguarded after completion of the projects.

European Court of Auditors: ECA/09/54: The sustainability and the Commission’s management of the LIFE-Nature projects http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=ECA/09/54&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

---