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The support comes from the LIFE programme for the EU Environment and Climate Action. The projects illustrate the Commission's ongoing commitment to its flagship circular economy package. 

LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects in EU states. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 4306 projects. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately €3.4 bln to the protection of the environment and climate. 

Commission’s opinion

Thus, the Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella underlined that LIFE-funded projects use relatively little funding but having a great idea to create profitable green businesses that deliver on the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy. 

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete said that with the Paris Agreement which entered into force on 4^th of November, the EU and the member states must now focus on delivering on the promises. Hence, LIFE-projects would create the right conditions to promote innovative solutions and spread best practices in reducing emission and adapting to climate change across the EU member states.   

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm

Projects from two Baltic States 

LATVIA, 1 project –€ 1.0 mln; Category: LIFE Nature & Biodiversity

LIFE CoHaBit (Carnikava Municipality): The aim of the project is to conserve and restore vulnerable coastal habitats in Latvia's Piejura Nature Park. 

Actions will benefit 13 types of coastal habitat and two plant species listed in the EU Habitats Directive, as well as six species listed in the EU Birds Directive. 

The project will update the site management plan to reduce anthropogenic pressures and work closely with the local community to ensure sustainable long-term management of this Natura 2000 network site.

More about the project see: Project summary

LITHUANIA 1 project – € 4.1 mln; Category: LIFE Nature & Biodiversity

LIFEMagniDucatusAcrola (Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania): The project is to protect the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) as Europe's rarest migratory songbird and a globally threatened species. It has very specific habitat requirements, being found only on fen mires or wet meadows on peaty soil covered by sedges. 

Areas of aquatic warbler habitat in Lithuania and Belarus are in large part degraded and a barrier to the natural connection of the populations in the two countries. This project is aiming to boost the population in Lithuania by translocating 100 individuals from Belarus and by reducing fragmentation of its breeding habitats in both countries. 

The project will also encourage better habitat management by setting up a factory in Lithuania to process biomass generated by mowing of aquatic warbler habitats.

More about the project see: Project summary.

General reference: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3489_en.htm?locale=en