Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 1 June 2018, establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE Programme) for the period 2021-2027.

Further information:

Launched in 1992, the LIFE Programme is one of the spearheads of EU environmental and climate funding. It is the only EU funding instrument entirely dedicated to environmental and climate objectives.

This proposal sets up the programme for the period between 2021 and 2027. It aims to repeal Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013. The general objective of this Programme for the period 2021-2027 is to contribute to the shift towards a clean, circular, energy efficient, climate neutral and climate resilient economy, including through the transition to clean energy, to protect and improve the quality of the environment and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

The initiative was tabled by the European Commission on 1 June 2018 in the framework of its proposals for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted its position on 11 December 2018, followed by the Council of the European Union (partially) on 20 December. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text was reached on 11 March 2019, pending an overall budgetary deal. Following the adoption of revised proposals for the MFF 2021-2027, negotiations restarted on this file and a new informal agreement was eventually reached on 17 December 2020. The Council formally endorsed it on 16 March 2021, followed by the Parliament on 29 April.

Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2018)292: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:292:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2018)293: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive summary of the impact assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:293:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) 2021–2027 (2018/0209(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2018/0209(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Proposal for a Regulation establishing a new Life Programme for 2021-2027 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-european-green-deal/file-mff-life-programme-2021-2027

European Commission: Press Release, 01/06/2018: Commission proposes to increase funding to support the environment and climate action https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_4002

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/12/2018: LIFE programme: Council agrees its position on the EU's environmental policy flagship programme https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/20/life-programme-council-agrees-its-position-on-the-eu-s-environmental-policy-flagship-programme/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/03/2019: LIFE programme – Coreper confirms common understanding reached with Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/03/20/life-programme-coreper-confirms-common-understanding-reached-with-parliament/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 17/12/2020: LIFE programme – Council Presidency reaches provisional political agreement with Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/12/17/life-programme-council-presidency-reaches-provisional-political-agreement-with-parliament/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 16/03/2021: LIFE programme – Council adopts its position at first reading https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/03/16/life-programme-council-adopts-its-position-at-first-reading/

European Parliament: Press Release, 29/04/2021: MEPs approve deal to invest €5.4 billion in climate and environmental projects https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210422IPR02614/

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Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: Briefing, November 2018: LIFE programme for 2021-2027: Financing environmental and climate objectives https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)628294

EPRS: Briefing, November 2018: Establishing a programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)627145

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