On 23 July, the EU Executive approved €250 million funding for 210 new projects under the third call for proposals of the European fund for the environment, the so-called ‘Life+’ programme 2007-2013…

The European Commission selected these 210 projects for co-funding among more than 600 applications from public and private bodies from the 27 Member States. Italy has the largest number of co-funded projects, with 56 projects for a total of €94,2 million. Spain follows with 36 projects, for a total of €94,8 million.

The programme has three different components: Life+ Nature and Biodiversity projects (which aim at improving the conservation status of endangered species and habitats), Life+ Environment Policy and Governance projects (which contribute to the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and instruments), and Life+ Information and Communication projects (which disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues, and promote training and awareness-raising for the prevention of forest fires). The Life+ programme has a budget of more than 2 billion euros for the period 2007-2013. Each year, the European Commission launches a call for Life+ project proposals.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "The LIFE+ programme continues to fund high quality, innovative projects with a high level of added value for the EU. I believe that these new projects will not only make a significant contribution to nature conservation and to improving the environment, they will also help raise awareness across Europe of the key environmental challenges facing us, notably biodiversity loss, water scarcity and climate change."