LIFE in action. Demonstration projects for Europe’s environment: 96 success stories

Summary:

The European Commission sees one of its most important tasks in the environmental field as beingnto support initiatives which join different interests and levels, thereby facilitating cooperation and communication across the dividing lines between local, national and European authorities and enterprises. One of the tools in this work is the LIFE instrument.

LIFE came into being in 1992 and covers three separate categories of support - environment, nature and third countries. This brochure contains résumés of projects supported by LIFE-Environment in all Member States. The 96 projects which are presented in this brochure have been selected on the basis of their common interest and to reflect the range of projects which have received support over the years.

The LIFE-Environment category is geared to industrial renewal and development - for example a new absorption process to reduce emissions of chemicals, recycling of waste or improving the accessibility of urban transport. But LIFE-Environment also provides assistance to local authorities in their efforts to give priority to the environment in town and country planning. LIFE-Environment supports innovative and demonstrative projects which can serve as examples for others who face similar environmental problems across Europe. Together, industries and local authorities have managed over 600 LIFE-Environment projects launched since 1992. Many of these projects have later proved to be commercial successes and others have assisted in guiding the development of future environmental policy initiatives and the allocation of structural Community assistance.

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