Commission wants candidate countries to join LIFE III
The Commission's Environment Directorate-General is encouraging the candidate countries to join and participate in its LIFE III programme, which is now under negotiation in the Council and should be approved this year. The LIFE programme, which dates back to 1992, is a financial instrument for three major areas of action: Environment, Nature and Third Countries. LIFE funding in these areas is aimed at improving the environment, yet each sector has specific priorities. LIFE cannot provide funding for research, but it can fund demonstration projects that show real, tangible nature conservation benefits. The candidate countries, says the Commission, can use LIFE to help co-finance urgent practical conservation measures for species already listed in European Union legislation or covered by the 'Emerald network' (a network of areas of special conservation interest for Europe). According to the Environment Directorate-General, for the candidate countries, many projects will be based on the Accession Partnership Agreements, and the EU's Phare programme will be able to co-finance up to 10% of LIFE projects. Those candidate countries that do participate in the programme will have access to specific financial and project management training and will be able to gain experience in setting up LIFE projects. This could be useful knowledge when setting up projects financed by other EU instruments. Infopacks for LIFE III in1999 will be available once the legislative process establishing this phase of the programme is completed.