Technical Support to the EU LIFE Programme

2009 to 2013

£1.4 million

European Commission

Since 2001 HTSPE has provided technical expertise in forestry, agriculture, nature, environmental management, legislation and audit, coastal zone management, water and waste management and ICT, in addition to project management and support and M&E.

LIFE, the Financial Instrument for the Environment, is one of the spearheads of the European Union's environmental policy. LIFE projects cover a wide scope – LIFE Environment projects address issues relating to the EU’s 6th Environmental Action Plan whilst LIFE Nature projects support the Natura 2000 network. (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/) 

HTSPE, as part of the Astrale group of nine European partners, has supported the LIFE III Environment Programme since 2001 and the whole LIFE III Programme since 2005 through its role as the External Assistance Team.  In 2009 they supported the new LIFE Programme, as well as continuing their role with the LIFE III Programme (http://www.astrale.org/).

One of the duties of the External Assistance Team is to assist LIFE beneficiaries in carrying out the project and in using the Commission grant in compliance with LIFE and Commission rules. The External Assistance Team is also mandated to assist European Commission services with the ongoing assessment and monitoring of projects and communication activities under each strand of the programme. HTSPE has particular responsibility for projects in the UK and Ireland, of which there are currently 38, as well as for certain cross-sectoral and thematic issues.

HTSPE carries out the following:

• Supporting projects through all stages of the project cycle
• Monitoring and evaluating project performance and deliverables
• Promoting geographic and thematic networking
• Disseminating lessons learned and success stories