LIFE: Environmental demonstration projects and technical assistance schemes
The Commission of the European Communities invites proposals for demonstration projects and technical assistance schemes in the context of the financial instrument for the environment (LIFE) established by Council Regulation (EEC) 1973/92 of 21.5.1992 (published in OJ No. L 206 of 22.7.1992). Areas eligible for support (up to 50% of real costs) relate to the finalization and the development of new clean technologies, either little- or non-polluting, and encouragement for the prudent use of resources in the following industrial sectors: - Treatment of surfaces; - Textiles; - Tanneries; - The agro-food industry; - The paper industry. Demonstration projects shall involve the implementation and operation of a full-scale installation, process or technique to gather all the data needed on economic and technical viability in order to proceed to larger-scale applications. Research proposals or studies will not be considered unless they are directly linked with such a project. They must also address a widespread environmental problem of direct interest to the region in which they are located. The Commission will give preference to projects involving an association of at least two partners from inside the Community and to projects calling for the use of an international network. Projects must be accompanied by an awareness-raising phase to disseminate the results obtained and to encourage adoption of the methods and techniques tested or development of similar schemes. Demonstration projects must be followed by a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic and social conditions necessary for adoption of the methods and techniques tested and to compare them with other available solutions. To avoid spreading funds too thinly, as a general rule only proposals with a total cost of not less than ECU 600,000 will be considered. Details of the application procedure are set out in the Official Journal. Proposals must be submitted to: Commission of the European Communities Directorate-General for the Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection Division XI/3 200 rue de la Loi (B-34 1/49) B-1049 Brussels