LIFE II: financial instrument for the environment (amend. regul. 1973/92/EEC)

OBJECTIVE: In the light of experience gained, to improve the efficiency of the financial instrument for the environment (LIFE). COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC) No 96/1404 amending Regulation 92/1973/EEC establishing a financial instrument for the environment (LIFE). SUBSTANCE: The Council Regulation lays down the detailed rules for the implementation of LIFE for a second phase 1996-1999, the first phase having expired on 31 December 1995. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the development and, where appropriate, the implementation of Community environment policy and legislation. To this end, LIFE will focus on four key areas: 1. nature protection measures (priority implementation of the Natura 2000 network); 2. facilitating the implementation of Community environment policy in areas other than nature protection, by funding: - innovative and demonstration projects designed to promote sustainable development in industrial activities; - demonstration, promotion and technical assistance projects for local authorities with a view to incorporating environmental factors into regional planning and promoting sustainable development; - preparatory measures such as: protection of coastal areas and their rational management, of rivers which flow into coastal areas and of their wetlands; reduction of toxic and hazardous waste; management and protection of water resources; air pollution, acidification, tropospheric ozone; 3. providing technical assistance to certain third countries bordering on the Mediterranean and the Baltic other than the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the establishment of the administrative structures needed in the environmental sector, in the development of environmental policy and action programmes, and in undertaking measures aimed at sustainable development; 4. funding accompanying measures needed to monitor, evaluate or promote the actions undertaken during the first stage, and dissemination of information on the experience and the results obtained from such actions. The LIFE instrument is open to the associated Central and European countries. LIFE II will receive ECU 450 m, this allocation being reviewed in 1997 in the light of the financial perspectives and on the basis of the applications for Community co-financing. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21 July 1996.�