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Over €380 million new funding for LIFE programme These projects aim to address environmental challenges and advance climate action across the continent. The Commission has granted today more than €380 million to 133 new projects across Europe under the LIFE Programme for environment and climate action. The allocated amount represents more than half of the €574 million total investment needs for these projects – the remainder coming from national, regional and local governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil society organisations. LIFE projects contribute to reaching the European Green Deal’s broad range of climate, energy and environmental goals, including the EU’s aim to become climate-neutral by 2050 and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, while ensuring Europe’s longterm prosperity. This investment will have a lasting impact on our environment, the economy and the well-being of all Europeans. The projects cover a range of environmental areas, including the circular economy, nature and biodiversity restoration, climate resilience, and clean energy transitions. These investments will have a profound impact on Europe’s environment, economy, and citizens’ quality of life, propelling the EU’s green transition. One of the primary focuses of the LIFE Programme is promoting a circular economy. Nearly €143m has been dedicated to 26 projects that aim to reduce waste, improve water use, and tackle air and noise pollution. These initiatives also emphasise the importance of recycling and reusing materials to minimise environmental impact. Notably, Italy’s LIFE GRAPhiREC project is set to recycle graphite from battery waste, potentially generating €23.4m in revenue while cutting production costs by €25m. Spain’s LIFE POLITEX project, with a €5m investment, aims to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint by converting textile waste into new fabrics. Additionally, the Canary Islands’ €9.8m DESALIFE project seeks to improve water resilience by desalinating 1.7 billion litres of ocean water using offshore wave-powered buoys.

Close to €216m has been allocated for projects that restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity. Twenty-five projects will address habitat restoration, species conservation, and improved management of freshwater, marine, and coastal environments. LIFE4AquaticWarbler and LIFE AWOM, two biodiversity projects, aim to save the rare aquatic warbler bird, mobilising €24m across multiple countries, including Belgium, Germany, and Spain. Budapest’s €3.6m Biodiverse City LIFE project promotes the peaceful coexistence of nature and urban life, showcasing how cities can integrate biodiversity into their planning. With €110m earmarked for climate resilience and mitigation efforts, Europe is making strides in adapting to the impacts of climate change. IMAGE LIFE and LIFE VINOSHIELD, two notable projects, will help European vineyards and cheese producers (e.g., Parmigiano Reggiano and Camembert) adapt to extreme weather conditions and water scarcity. To further accelerate the green transition, €105m is being invested in projects that promote clean energy solutions. One example is LIFE DiVirtue, a €1.25m project using virtual and augmented reality to train construction professionals in building zero-emission structures. Meanwhile, the €10m ENERCOM FACILITY project will empower 140 emerging energy communities across Europe to develop sustainable energy initiatives and promote long-term renewable energy solutions. The LIFE Programme’s investment in these 133 projects highlights the EU’s commitment to tackling environmental challenges and achieving a sustainable future. Through innovations in the circular economy, biodiversity restoration, and climate resilience, Europe is moving closer to its goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and ensuring the success of its green transition.

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en

Eastern Spain, October 25th, 2022.

Torrential rains caused deadly flooding and extensive damage in eastern Spain, October 30th, 2024.

EU Research

Re-elected Ursula von der Leyen vows to increase EU research spending in new term Closing the innovation gap with the US and China is her first ambition – but speech is light on new details. Ursula von der Leyen promised to put research and innovation “at the centre of our economy” as she laid out her plans for the next five years, before the European Parliament voted to confirm her second term as president of the European Commission. A total of 401 MEPs voted in favour of von der Leyen’s reelection this afternoon, and 284 voted against, making for a more comfortable majority than her first vote in 2019. There was no mention of research in her speech to MEPs before the vote, but in her political guidelines published this morning, von der Leyen pledges to increase the EU’s research spending, and “expand” the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). The ERC delivers grants to support primarily early-stage research, with a budget of more than €16 billion under Horizon Europe. French president Emmanuel Macron has called for the ERC to be reinforced, and ERC president Maria Leptin recently urged grant holders to lobby politicians for more funding. The EIC supports researchers and innovators with grants and equity investments. Its €10.1 billion budget until 2027 makes it one of the biggest deep tech investors in the world, but its president has stressed the need for additional funding. Meanwhile MEPs and the research community have been calling for the Horizon Europe budget to be doubled to €200 billion in the next framework programme, as member states continue to show no signs of spending 3% of GDP on R&D, targets which were proposed back in 2003.

In her political guidelines for this term, von der Leyen has promised to “increase” research spending and expand the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC). But it’s unclear what budget the Commission will shoot for when haggling with member states begins in earnest next year. In a report published this week, MEPs in the Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) say half of the FP10 budget should go to the ERC and EIC. MEPs are also backing the creation of a European Technology and Industrial Competitiveness Council to enhance private sector participation, and a European Societal Challenges Council to manage research and innovation activities addressing societal challenges. In her speech on Wednesday, von der Leyen did not mention several policy ideas in the recent report from former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi – even though the Competitiveness Compass is set to be based on his report. The report, for example, wants the EU to set up its own breakthrough innovation agency, modelled on the US’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It also wants the ERC to fund EU chairs for “top researchers”. Following her speech, MEPs approved von der Leyen’s picks for commissioner, as expected following weeks of haggling among the parliament’s political groups. 370 voted for, 282 against, and 36 abstained. They will take office on 1 December.

Von der Leyen also wants to launch new public-private partnerships, propose a European biotech act next year as part of a wider life sciences strategy, and strengthen the university alliances designed to deepen cross-border links between institutions. Leptin said von der Leyen’s appointment would provide much-needed continuity, and she is “very pleased” with the commitment to increase research spending with a focus on fundamental research, scientific excellence, and disruptive innovation, and to expand the ERC. “In the ERC competitions, we can now only fund 60% of excellent proposals; increased funds would certainly help to close this gap and further curb the brain drain from Europe,” Leptin said. “What’s more, there is a need to increase the funding given to ERC grantees as the grant sizes have not changed since the creation of the ERC in 2007, despite inflation.” Her focus on research and innovation won applause from MEPs. “I very much welcome that we finally have a Commission President again that understand the value of science, research and innovation for the European project,” said German MEP Christian Ehler in a statement posted to X. But despite research and innovation winning pride of place in von der Leyen’s speech, she didn’t yet flesh out any policy details.