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  1. An institution, body, office or agency established by or based on the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

    All education and training facilities for people of different age groups.

    An intergovernmental organization having legal personality under public international law or a specialized agency established by such an international organization. An international organization, the majority of whose members are Member States or Associated Countries and whose main objective is to promote scientific and technological cooperation in Europe, is an International Organization of European Interest.

    A person with legal rights and obligations. Unlike a legal entity, a natural person does not have a legal act (e.g. association, limited liability company, etc.).

    An NPO is an institution or organization which, by virtue of its legal form, is not profit-oriented or which is required by law not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual members. An NGO is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that does not represent business interests. Pursues a common purpose for the benefit of society.

    A partnership, corporation, person, or agency that is for-profit and not operated by the government.

    Any government or other public administration, including public advisory bodies, at the national, regional or local level.

    A research institution is a legal entity established as a non-profit organization whose main objective is to conduct research or technological development. A college/university is a legal entity recognized by its national education system as a university or college or secondary school. It may be a public or private institution.

    A microenterprise, a small or medium-sized enterprise (business) as defined in EU Recommendation 2003/361. To qualify as an SME for EU funding, an enterprise must meet certain conditions, including (a) fewer than 250 employees and (b) an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. These ceilings apply only to the figures for individual companies.

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  1. Governance, partnership: Projects aimed at increasing the application of multilevel and transnational or cross-border governance, designing and testing appropriate governance structures and mechanisms. Also cooperation between public institutions on any theme.

    Innovation capacity and awareness-raising: Actions that increase a person’s or organisation’s capacity for innovation (not innovation as such), and that establish the capacity to diffuse and apply innovation; projects that stimulate innovation in different areas and innovation capacities; strengthening and empowering of innovation networks.

    Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks: Projects working on the improvement of institutional cross-border co-operation and capacities, on renewing and simplifying administrative management through long term cooperation between institutions (e.g. Euregion), on establishing and sharing regional knowledge and intercultural understanding and cohesion. It also deals with cooperations between universities, health care facilities, schools and sports organisations, as well as with management and capacity building.

    Activities focussing on agricultural products, organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products; furthermore the development of the food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products and any topics related to animals and fishing.

    Agriculture and fisheries and forestry: Projects focussing on agricultural products (i.e. fruits, meat, olives, etc.), organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products. Also the development of the agro-food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products. Any topics related to animals (i.e. health, management) and fishing (i.e. sustainable fishery, aquaculture).

    Soil and air quality: Projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Climate change and biodiversity projects assisting mitigation and adaption to climate change and environmental impacts of climate change. Development of low carbon technologies and strategies, reduction of CO2 emissions from all sectors. Promotion of biodiversity, new instruments to enhance biodiversity and natural protection.

    Soil and air quality projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Water management projects about management and distribution of drinking water, integrated sustainable water management, monitoring systems for water supply and improving drinking water quality; also water treatment (wastewater), in particular, innovative technologies to improve wastewater, treatments in the purification of industrial and domestic wastewater and water reuse policies. Waterways, lakes and rivers: This deals with any topics on waterways, lakes and rivers, from improving water quality, protecting and developing of ecosystems or sustainable wetland management.

    Activities that protect, promote and enhance cultural and natural heritage, increase the attractiveness through preservation and valorisation of common cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable manner, and improve and develop cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products. Cultural heritage management, art and culture, (maritime) heritage routes, access to cultural and natural heritage. Also all topics on cultural services such as festivals, concerts, art workshops.

    Tourism projects dealing with the promotion of natural assets, and the protection and development of natural heritage, as well as increasing the touristic attractiveness through the better use of natural, cultural and historical heritage. Also projects about improved tourist services/products, development of ecotourism models, tourism development strategies.

    Sustainable management of natural resources projects focussing on the protection, promotion and valorization, and sustainable management and conservation of natural areas (habitats, geo parks, protected areas, etc.). Also projects focussing on preserving and enhancing cultural and natural heritage and landscape, as well as protecting the marine environment.

    Projects on waste management (innovative services and strategies), ecological waste treatment, treatment techniques/systems; waste disposal and recycling (improvement of recycling, innovative recycling technologies, recovery of organic waste, repair & re-use centres and networks); also prevention of pollution and pollution control (ecological and circular economy, marine littering, etc.).

    Labour market and employment: creating employment opportunities and/or optimising jobs, academic (un)employment and job mobility, workforce attraction and improvement of employment conditions for different groups.

    SME and entrepreneurship: strengthening SME capacities, boosting entrepreneurial activities in different sectors and for different groups, supporting social entrepreneurship, creating business support/advisory systems for start-ups/spin-offs/incubators, improving the competitiveness of SMEs, and promoting new business processes.

    Community integration and common identity projects that build identity, create a more cohesive society, promote positive relations through an increased provision of shared spaces and services.

    Demographic change and immigration is about projects tackling major societal challenges like demographic change in different areas and migration, in particular, aging society (active aging, best agers, silver economy strategies) and related new public services (adaptation of key services and infrastructure), social and spatial segregation, and brain drain. Also all topics on migration (policy tools, strategic planning, integration).

    All projects where ICT has a significant role, including tailor-made ICT solutions in different fields, as well as digital innovation hubs, open data, Internet of Things; ICT access and connecting (remote) areas with digital infrastructure and services; services and applications for citizens (e-health, e-government, e-learning, e-inclusion, etc.); services and applications for companies (e-commerce, networking, digital transformation, etc.).

    This is about the mitigation and management of risks and disasters, and the anticipation and response capacity towards the actors regarding specific risks and management of natural disasters, for example, prevention of flood and drought hazards, forest fire, strong weather conditions, etc.. It is also about risk assessment and safety.

    Education and training projects on expanding educational opportunities, reducing barriers in the field of education, improving higher education and lifelong learning, training and labour mobility, educational networks, higher vocational education, common learning programmes.

    Topics on energy management, energy-saving methods, evaluating energy efficiency measurements, energy rehabilitation/efficiency in buildings / public infrastructure, promotion of energy efficiency, cooperation among experienced energy efficiency firms, institutions and local administrations, co-generation.

    Projects focussing on wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal and other renewable energy, increasing the production of sustainable renewable energy and improving research capacities in biomass. Also projects focussing on storage and management of renewable energy, new technologies, sustainable regional bioenergy policies and financial Instruments for investments on renewable energy.

    Social projects concerning people with disabilities and excluded groups; enhancement of the capacity of children, young people, women and elderly; creation of infrastructure to improve access for disabled people, integration of socially vulnerable people; innovate in the care of victims of gender violence, social inclusion of women, etc.

    This deals with the development of health and social services and improved accessibility and efficiency for different groups (elderly, children, etc.). It is also about new healthcare models and medical diagnosis and treatments (dementia, cancer, diabetes, etc.), hospitals, care management, and rare diseases, as well as improving wellbeing and promoting sports.

    Projects about (organised) crime, efficient and secure borders, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the police in the prevention of drug crimes, the development of safety services, or tackling security and organised crime issues.

    Activities related to:

    • Transport and mobility covering all sorts of transport (incl. urban transport) and mobility.
    • Improving transport connections dealing with traffic and/or transport connections, rehabiliation/modernisation, better connectivity, improving accessibility/connections, but also public transport.
    • Multimodal transport and logistics and freight transport focusing on using different means of transport, developing multimodal connections, optimising intermodal transport chains; offering multimodal logistics solutions and providing access to clean, efficient and multimodal transport corridors and hubs; establishing cooperation among logistic centres and developing multimodal mobility strategies.

    Activities related to:

    • urban development, such as planning and design of cities and urban areas, urban renewal, urban-rural links (climate, sustainable mobility, water efficiency, participation, sustainable land use, smart cities, public urban areas, regeneration)
    • regional planning and development, such as the implementation of regional development policies/instruments and programmes, sustainable land use management plans, integrated regional action plans, spatial planning, and marine protected area management.
    • rural and peripheral development, referring to remote, sparsely populated areas, rural community development, and rural economics, in particular access to remote areas and policies for rural areas.
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Deadline expired

The deadline for this call has expired.

Call key data

Strategic Nature Projects

Funding Program

LIFE - sub-programme “Nature and Biodiversity”

Call number

LIFE-2024-STRAT-NAT-SNAP-two-stage

deadlines

Opening
18.04.2024

Deadline
05.09.2024 17:00

Funding rate

60%

Call budget

€ 70,000,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

between € 10,000,000.00 and € 30,000,000.00

Link to the call

ec.europa.eu

Link to the submission

ec.europa.eu

Call content

short description

The objective of a SNaP project is to support the achievement of EU nature and biodiversity objectives by implementing coherent programmes of action in Member States in order to mainstream those objectives and priorities into other policies and financing instruments.

Call objectives

SNaPs will support the coordinated implementation of:

  • Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF) and/or
  • other plans or strategies adopted at international, national, multiregional or regional level by nature and biodiversity authorities, that implement EU nature and/or biodiversity policy or legislation, through coordination of the available funding and mobilisation of additional funding and with the active engagement of all the relevant stakeholders (see “additional conditions” further down within this topic).

In this way, a SNaP project will support effective mainstreaming of nature and biodiversity objectives and priorities into other policies and financing instruments.

Expected effects and impacts

  • After the project end (3-5 years after): catalysing full implementation of the PAF and/or other eligible plan(s)/strategy(ies)/action plan(s) as per the “objectives”.
  • Significant contribution to the favourable conservation status of natural habitats and species of EU importance maintained and/or restored as per measures identified in the target plan.
  • Significant contribution to the reduction of pressures on habitats and species and restored degraded ecosystems as per measures identified in the targeted plan(s)/strategy(ies)/action plan(s).

At stage 2 (full proposal), applicants should review relevant indicators (KPI) in Part C of the eGrant application and complete them with the estimated impact of the project. Part C data should be coherent with the description of impacts of section 2 of Part B of the Application Form.

In case Part C does not include impact indicators that are important for your project (e.g.: NOx emission reduction in case of Air quality projects) you should make use of the indicator “Other project specific KPIs” in Part C and provide a relevant description of such indicators in section 2 of Part B of the Application Form.

More detailed KPI information will be requested during the project implementation time.

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Expected results

SNAPs should target the implementation of PAFs and/or the other Plans and Strategies listed below. Please note that a single SNaP can target both a PAF and another Plan/ Strategy.

A SNaP full proposal cannot be submitted in the absence of a PAF or other eligible plan approved/adopted at the appropriate level and, if relevant, submitted to the European Commission which considered it of acceptable quality.

Should the target plan(s) require a major modification regarding e.g. selection of conservation measures or financial architecture, e.g. as a result of the operational programmes negotiations, the relevant authority should submit both the currently applicable plan plus the latest version of the new plan or explanation justifying the expected changes and attach them together with the full proposal.

Depending on the administrative structures of the Member States, PAFs or other eligible plans cover either an entire country or a region. This has a direct impact on the geographical scope of a SNaP as in most cases they would address the implementation of a single plan. Nevertheless, applicants may find it appropriate to submit a SNaP covering territories falling under the scope of more than one plan of the same or a neighbouring country.

The applicants should demonstrate how the project aims at the implementation of the target plan. To this effect the project should include actions that may facilitate the mobilisation and use of other complementary funds that can finance the implementation of actions or measures beyond those supported by the SNaP – both as regards scope and timeframe.

This means in practice that the SNaP shall include (i) a combination of actions that contribute directly to the implementation of measures – and achievement of targets - of the target plan foreseen to be financed by LIFE; and (ii) horizontal actions that facilitate the full implementation of the plan.

SNaP must include specific actions to mainstream the objectives of the targeted plan or plans into other policies and financing instruments.

Further to the general objectives of SNaPs, the proposal should therefore present information on:

  • the expected level of implementation of the target plan as a direct consequence of the actions foreseen in the SNaP or through the complementary actions financed by other means mobilised in parallel to the SNaP;
  • the area covered by measures, the number of sites, the relevance of these sites in terms of species and habitat types within their bio-geographical regions;
  • the expected improvement of the conservation status of species and habitats with particular attention to those habitats and species that are considered as priority and/or those that have been reported as being in unfavorable conservation status; and
  • the expected improvement on the long term capacity to monitor and assess the status of species and habitats of EU importance (art 11 and 17 of the Habitats Directive).
  • actions planned in order to effectively mainstream nature conservation objectives in the territory targeted by the SNAP into other policy areas and financing instruments

Proposals should present comprehensive projects that will deliver on their core objective and do so in a way that also delivers benefits for other environmental and climate objectives.

These additional benefits can include contributions to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 as well as the achievement of ‘good environmental status’ under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, or achieving Water Framework Directive objectives like the:

  • evaluation, assessment and restoration of ecosystems and their services,
  • increase of the contribution of agriculture and forestry to biodiversity,
  • reduction of the impact of fisheries and of other uses of marine and coastal natural resources on biodiversity,
  • monitoring, prevention, eradication and control of invasive alien species
  • monitoring and conservation of pollinating insects.

Implementation of PAF:
As regards PAF implementation, SNaPs should support the further development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network, in particular via the development, testing, demonstration and application of conservation methods and practices, improving knowledge base about the nature values of the sites, raising awareness and improving administrative capacity of the beneficiaries and management authorities. These SNaPs may include Green Infrastructure, actions if referred to in the PAF, so as to, for instance, improve the structural and functional connectivity of the Natura 2000 sites or the condition of ecosystems and the services they provide.

The authorities that elaborated the PAF normally indicated the LIFE programme among the funds that can contribute to achieving targets of the Biodiversity Strategy. Other complementary funds (ERDF; EAFRD, INTERREG, Horizon Europe, EMFF) are usually listed as well. The applicants of SNaPs can in principle base themselves on these indicative funding arrangements when designing the SNaP itself.

SNaPs are expected to implement a chosen set of actions foreseen to be financed by LIFE in the corresponding PAF or PAFs of a country or region (or a combination of countries/regions). For this reason the PAF should be officially adopted at the latest by the full proposal submission deadline for the proposal to be eligible.

Eligibility of SNAPs targeting a PAF which was already the target of a prior nature Integrated Project (IP): a follow-up SNAP proposal targeting the same plan as a past or ongoing nature Integrated Project (IP) can only be eligible, under the following conditions:

  • No double funding: LIFE cannot fund twice the same activity, so the proposal should clearly show that this will not be the case.
  • The SNAP proposal must demonstrate a clear added value compared to the past or ongoing nature IP, considering that the IP was already designed to catalyse the full implementation of the target PAF.

Implementation of other plans/strategies:

Full implementation of PAF is the key element in most SNaPs. Applicants are strongly encourged, however, to also consider in their SNaP a contribution to the full implementation of other plans or strategies beyond the scope of EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This is particularly the case for the EU Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species but may also concern other plans in particular where those are stemming from the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Transnational approaches are also encouraged in this context.

SNaPs should support the implementation of the EU biodiversity policy and legislation (indicatively the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, EU Pollinators Initiative, Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on invasive alien species), in particular via the development, testing, demonstration and application of relevant methods and practices, developing long term capacity for species monitoring, improving knowledge base, raising awareness and improving administrative capacity of the beneficiaries and management authorities.

SNaPs are expected to implement a chosen set of actions foreseen to be co-financed by LIFE in the corresponding plan or strategy of a country or region (or a combination of countries/regions). Due to this requirement, a SNaP full proposal cannot be submitted in the absence of an overarching plan or strategy adopted at the appropriate level by nature and biodiversity authorities, such as national Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Plans or strategies addressing specific areas under those overarching plans or strategies could be supported even if they are in the planning or development stage at the time of submission of the concept note, but they need to be officially adopted at the latest by the full proposal submission deadline. Examples include the following:

  • National or Regional Pollinator/Insect Strategies and/or Action Plans
  • National or Regional Plans for Green Infrastructure Networks
  • National or Regional Restoration Plans, National or Regional Urban Greening Plans, etc. as called for in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
  • National or Regional Plans or strategies supporting implementation of the objectives of the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species

Depending on the administrative structures of the Member States, these plans or strategies cover either an entire country or a region. This has a direct impact on the geographical scope of a SNaP. Nevertheless, applicants may find it appropriate to submit a SNaP covering territories falling under the scope of more than one plan or strategy of the same or a neighboring country.

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Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)
Moldova (Moldova), Iceland (Ísland), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Ukraine (Україна)

eligible entities

Education and training institution, International organization, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Mandatory partnership

Yes

Project Partnership

Proposals must be submitted by:

  • minimum 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities)
  • the authority responsible for the plan/strategy/action plan should be in principle participating in the consortium as coordinator. In well justified cases it may participate not as coordinator, but it should in any case be part of the consortium.

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • non-EU countries:
      • listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
  • the coordinator must be established in an eligible country

Entities from other countries (not listed above) are exceptionally eligible, if the granting authority considers their participation essential for the implementation of the action (see work programme).

Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).

International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.

EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

Financial support to third parties is allowed in all topics of this Call for grants and prizes under the following conditions: 

  • the calls must be open, published widely and conform to EU standards concerning transparency, equal treatment, conflict of interest and confidentiality

other eligibility criteria

Please check the call document page 14-21 for more details about the following additional conditions:

  • Ongoing and recurring activities
  • Mainstreaming - Activities aiming at establishing the targets and or measures for other strategies not targeted by SNaP
  • Participation in the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process
  • Platform meetings
  • Requirements related to complementary funds mobilisation/coordination
  • Stakeholder involvement
  • Project management & coordination with complementary funds
  • Replicability & transferability
  • Polluter pays principle & eligibility of actions
  • Land purchase
  • Indicative distribution of SNaPs per Member State

Additional information

Topics

Administration & Governance, Institutional Capacity & Cooperation, 
Agriculture & Forestry, Fishery, Food, Soil quality, 
Air Quality, Biodiversity & Environment, Climate & Climate Change, Water quality & management

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

between 60 and 120 months

Additional Information

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section. Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Project acronym — Your project acronym must include the word LIFE. 

Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents: 

  • Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants (future coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities) and the summarised budget for the project (to be filled in directly online)
  • Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project (to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded) 
  • Part C — contains additional project data and the project’s contribution to EU programme key performance indicators (not applicable at stage 1) (to be filled in directly online)
  • Mandatory annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded):
    • for concept notes (stage 1):
      • detailed budget table: not applicable
      • CVs of core project team: not applicable
      • activity reports of last year: not applicable
      • list of previous projects: not applicable
      • targeted plan/strategy/action plan (if several, combine in one file)
      • implementation overview for the plan/strategy/action plan
      • complementary funding plan.
    • for full proposals (stage 2):
      • detailed budget table (mandatory excel template available in the Submission System)
      • CVs of core project team: not applicable
      • activity reports of last year: not applicable
      • list of previous projects: not applicable
      • participant information
      • targeted plan/strategy/action plan (if several, combine in one file)
      • implementation overview for the plan/strategy/action plan
      • complementary funding plan
      • complementary funding declarations (at least one).
  • optional annexes ( relevant info about activities should be in the main text. Optional annexes are to be used only if necessary to support statements in Parts A-B-C):
    • for stage 1: not applicable
    • for stage 2:
      • letters of support
      • co-financing declarations
      • other annexes (maps, schemes, etc.)

Proposals are limited to maximum 45 pages (Part B) at stage 1 (you cannot delete instructions) and 200 pages (Part B) at stage 2 (you cannot delete instructions). Evaluators will not consider any additional pages.

Call documents

LIFE 2024 Strategic Nature and Integrated Projects (SNaP/SIP)LIFE 2024 Strategic Nature and Integrated Projects (SNaP/SIP)(1319kB)

Contact

European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) - LIFE
Website

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