Record Interest in the LIFE Programme in 2025: Over 1,000 Project Proposals for More than €3.1 Billion in European Funding

The EU’s LIFE programme for environment and climate is experiencing unprecedented interest in 2025. With a total of 1,095 project proposals submitted across its four subprogrammes, the initiative shows a growth of 16% compared to the previous year.

The total value of the proposed projects exceeds €5.6 billion, with the requested funding from the EU amounting to over €3.1 billion. It is expected that about two-thirds of the costs will be covered by the European budget, with the remainder coming from national and local institutions, businesses, public-private partnerships and non-governmental organizations. 

Among submitted proposals, the largest number are in the field of circular economy & quality of life (348 projects), followed by clean energy transition (319 projects), climate mitigation & adaptation (260 projects) and nature & biodiversity protection (168 projects).

What are the objectives of projects under the LIFE programme?
The programme supports initiatives that:
• aim to conserve and restore nature and biodiversity in Europe; 
• promote circular economy and innovative technological solutions; 
• improve quality of life and the state of the environment; 
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change;
• assist the transition to energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. 

Who can apply?
Applicants can be both individual organizations and consortia — including universities, businesses, municipalities, institutes and NGOs. Projects may span one or more EU Member States, and must align with key European policies and strategies such as:
• The European Green Deal; 
• The Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; 
• The Circular Economy Action Plan; 
• The Water Framework Directive and others. 

What’s next?
All proposals will undergo an independent expert evaluation by the EU Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA). Results are expected in spring 2026, and the successfully approved projects will begin in stages by the end of the same year. 

About the LIFE programme
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s primary financial instrument dedicated entirely to environmental protection and combating climate change. Since its establishment in 1992, it has supported over 6,500 projects across Europe and in associated countries. For the current programming period (2021–2027) its budget has been increased by nearly 60%, reaching €5.43 billion.