Life Canal de Castilla

LIFE Programme

"A European Community Programme of Policy and Action in Relation to the Environment and Sustainable Development," better known as the Fifth Environment Action Programme, was published in 1992. This programme was the predecessor of the LIFE Program. This programme was conceived as an instrument for the application and development of Community policy and legislation in environmental matters to favour the integration of environmental concerns into the European Union policies. The programme also tries to promote the development of new solutions to environmental problems of the European Union. The LIFE Programme is a financial instrument created to implement the application, update and development of Community policy and legislation in environmental matters. It is governed by Reglamento 1655/2000 of the European Parliament and Council.

The first stage, approved in 1992, covered the period from 1992 to 1995 and was endowed with 400 million euros. In 1996, a new regulation was approved for the 1996-1999 phase, with a budget of 45 million euros. In 2000, the 2000–2004 phase was approved, with an initial budget of 640 million euros. This phase was extended to 2006 and the budget was enhanced by 317 million euros.