Strategic Integrated Projects - Environment

The main goal of this opportunity is to help fully implement targeted plans and strategies focused on environmental and climate action. It aims to make significant progress during the project and ensure that these plans are fully carried out after the project ends. The focus areas include the Circular Economy, Waste Management, Water Management, Air Quality, and Noise Action Plans. The opportunity emphasizes mobilizing funding and creating lasting processes for sustainability. Please note that the specific geographic scope is not detailed in the available information.

• mplement all or parts of approved national/regional environmental plans (e.g., Circular Economy, Waste, Water, Air Quality, Noise), delivering measurable actions.

• Design phased, long-term projects (typically 60–120 months, with ≥3-year phases).

• Mobilise and coordinate complementary funds (EU, national, private) alongside the SIP actions.

• Engage authorities, stakeholders, and end-users as beneficiaries or active partners in design and execution.

• Build strategic capacity in competent authorities and stakeholders to ensure sustainability post-project.

• Contribute directly to the implementation level of the targeted plan or strategy (quantified impact expected).

• Include measures for replication and transferability across regions or other Member States.

• Follow LIFE admissibility rules (deadlines, templates, electronic submission).

• Respect eligibility criteria (minimum 2 independent applicants; coordinator from eligible country).

• Demonstrate financial/operational capacity and absence of exclusion grounds.

• Support monitoring, learning, communication, exploitation, and sustainability planning.

• Ensure no overlap with other funding and demonstrate added EU value.

• Include capacity-building, stakeholder coordination, and risk management actions.

• Comply with EU policy priorities under the LIFE Regulation.

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 56,000,000€

• Eligible applicants: Legal entities (public or private bodies) established in EU Member States, overseas territories, or countries associated with the LIFE Programme (including EEA countries); the coordinator must also be based in one of these

• Consortium requirement: Minimum of two beneficiaries (not only affiliated entities), and the authority responsible for the targeted plan/strategy should normally participate in the consortium (preferably as coordinator) 

• Plan/strategy alignment: Project must implement a formal, approved environment strategy or plan in one of these themes:

  • Circular economy / quality of life (e.g. circular economy action plans)

  • Waste management plans

  • Water-related plans (river basin, flood risk, marine, drought plans)

  • Air or noise management plans 

• Mandatory complementary financing: Must mobilise at least one additional funding source (EU, national or private) apart from the LIFE grant

• Co‑financing requirement: LIFE provides up to 60% of eligible costs; the remaining 40% must be covered by the beneficiaries or other non-EU sources (in-kind usually not permitted) 

• Project duration: Large-scale projects typically last 60–120 months with a revolving multi-phase structure (e.g. several ≥3-year phases) .

• Two-stage submission:

  • Stage 1 (concept note): by 4 September 2025, 17:00 CET

  • Stage 2 (full proposal): by 5 March 2026, 17:00 CET