LIFE 2020 Call for Proposals from NGOs on the European Green Deal

Opening date
10. Dezember 2020
Deadline
31. März 2021
Code
NGO4GD

According to Article 2(g) of the LIFE Regulation, preparatory projects are conceived “to support specific needs for the development and implementation of Union environmental or climate policy and legislation”. The Commission makes an inventory of specific needs to be addressed during the following years and identifies among them the needs that could be addressed by preparatory projects. Member States receive a draft list and are asked to comment. Based on these comments, a final list of preparatory projects is established and calls for proposals are launched.

The European Green Deal is the European Commission's blueprint and roadmap to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, with a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind. Amid the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, civil society as a whole and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in particular are suffering a blow to their capacity to take actions and to contribute to the profound transformations needed to achieve a successful and just transition towards a sustainable future. The situation is likely to worsen before it gets better, and the risk of a substantial reduction of their activities is very much present.

The LIFE 2020 Call for Proposals from NGOs on the European Green Deal (LIFE 2020 NGO4GD) is reinforcing the capacity of NGOs acting at Member States’ level to mobilise and strengthen civil society participation and contribution to the implementation of the European Green Deal. Action grants that will be funded under this call are expected to deliver tangible results in strengthening knowledge and empowering civil society in one or several of the thematic areas reflecting the work streams of the European Green deal, namely: (1) Increasing climate ambition (2) Clean, affordable and secure energy (3) Industry for a clean and circular economy (4) Energy and resource efficient buildings (5) Sustainable and smart mobility (6) Farm to fork (7) Biodiversity and ecosystems (8) Zero-pollution, toxic-free environments (9) Sustainable finance.

Eligibility criteria:

Proposals that have passed the opening phase are checked for their compliance with the eligibility criteria. Proposals must be submitted by a single legal entity that fulfils the below requirements.
To be eligible, an applicant MUST:
1. be a non-profit making legal person;

2. be independent, in particular from government, other public authorities, and from political or commercial interests;

3. be primarily active in the areas of environment and/or climate action and have an environmental/climate objective which is aimed at:

  • a. the public good, and/or
  • b. sustainable development, and /or
  • c. the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental and/or climate policy and legislation;

In case of doubt, the Contracting Authority will refer to the statutes (or equivalent) of the NGO to determine its objective.

4. be established (legally registered) in one of the European Union Member States.

5. be established (legally registered) before 1 January 2018.

6. be operating at national level. In the case of applicants established in larger European Union Member States, this criterion can be met if the applicant operates at least at regional level.

7. have a total revenue equal to at least € 700 000 as taken from the profit and loss account of the 2019 statements and/or an average number of permanent staff of at least 10 in 2019.

8. have recorded a negative trend in revenues for 2020 of at least 10% as compared to the average revenues of the previous two years OR a revenue loss of at least € 100 000;

9. Furthermore, to be eligible, an applicant CANNOT BE a recipient of a LIFE NGO Operating Grant.