Strategic Integrated Projects - Environment

Type

LIFE Project Grants (two-stage procedure)

About the call

SIPs support the implementation, at regional, national or transnational level, of environmental strategies and action plans required by EU legislation. The call budget is EUR 58 million, with grant sizes of EUR 10-30 million. As with SNaPs, the project must engage multiple stakeholders and mobilise complementary funding: LIFE covers coordination and catalytic actions, while the main investments come from other funds.

Objectives

• Ensure full (or substantial) implementation of a specific environmental plan or strategy required by EU legislation.
• Launch a mechanism that will continue implementing the plan after the project ends.
• Mobilise funding from other EU, national and private sources.

Which plans are eligible

• Waste Management Plans and waste prevention programmes.
• River Basin Management Plans.
• Flood risk management plans.
• Air Quality Plans.
• Noise action plans.
• National circular economy strategies.

What is funded

• Coordination and strategic actions that catalyse the plan's implementation process.
• Capacity building of competent authorities and stakeholders.
• Measures that directly implement part of the plan.
• Mechanisms for attracting and coordinating complementary funding.

Conditions

• Call budget: EUR 58 million
• Grant size: EUR 10-30 million
• Co-financing rate: up to 60%
• Important: within the SIP itself, co-financing cannot come from other EU sources
• Implementation in phases (each usually at least 3 years)
• Applicant: usually the public authority responsible for the relevant plan

Deadlines

• Concept notes: 3 September 2026, 17:00 CEST
• Full proposals: 4 March 2027, 17:00 CET