EU funding

Workshop

Peter Torkler

(WWF Germany)Peterborough 2007

• The Integration Option or the Limits of LIFE+ funding

• Wider opportunities of major EU funds

• Challenges ahead to secure funds

Content

Limits Life+

• Estimated costs of N2000 for EU 25: 6,1 billion Euro• Integration option: Use of existing Community funds

– To ensure that management of Natura 2000 sites is part of the wider land management policies of the EU

– Allows MS to set national priorities– Avoids duplication of different Community funding

Alberto Arroyo Schnell, WWF International

LIFE+ funding – important but limited

Duration: 1.1.2007 to 31.12.2013

Budget: € 2.143 billion• at least 78% of LIFE+ for the co-financing of

project action grants under 3 priorities– at least 50% of this amount is for nature and biodiversity

projects

• up to 22% for operational expenses of DG Environment

• Published in OJ L149 9.6.07, first call ends 30.11!

LIFE is limited because…

308

69

3,8 2,1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

ERDF EAFRD EFF LIFE

Funds 2007-2013 bn €

Wider opportunities – Funding sources

Hypothetical contributions of funds for Natura 2000:

Fund/year

Contribution of Fund for Natura 2000

Funding needs bill. €6,1

EAFRD (9,86 bn)

17,1% 1,69

ERDF (44 bn)

3% 1,33

EFF(0,55 bn)

38% 0,21

LIFE+(0,27 bill)

92,6% 0,25

Total(54,68 bn)

6,36% 3,48 KOM*

*rest to be co funded by national sources

! High competition with current funding for EAFRD and EFF

! Unexploited options with ERDF

! LIFE+ limitted

Wider opportunities – Funding sources

• Regional development fund Development of management plans SustainableTourism activities Environmental education “Information society” actions for monitoring

• European Social Fund Indirect possibilities through job creation

• Rural development funding Management plans Agri-Environment payments and Natura 2000 payments Natural and cultural heritage

1st effort to

understand the

opportunities of the integration option

Financing Natura 20001st edition!

• GuidanceInform and support Member States and potential

beneficiaries on how to use the Community funds

for Natura 2000

• Workshops in 25 Member States & BG and RO- Present the Guidance and how to use it

- Discuss country specific problems and challenges

- Enable co-operation/networking

Little confidence that funds will be available

Problems of the financial integration

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40

60

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100

-- - 0 + ++

Do you think, that the need of financing Natura 2000 in your country will be covered by the integration option?

The participants’ feedback made the point:The integration option is a long term perspective!

0

20

40

60

80

100

-- - 0 + ++

Are you standing behind the integration option?

• Nature conservation actors have doubts that the complementary use of funds will work in practice

• No systematic analysis was made from past experience with the use of wider funding opportunities

• Not enough lessons learned applied in the new funding discussion for 2007-2013

Challenges and solutions

• A more systematic approach to analyse complementary funding options

• A better understanding among environmental actors how to better use not purely environmental funding instruments for nature!

• To encourage non environmental actors to take responsibility for the implementation of Natura 2000

• More applications for projects that use the wider funding opportunities of all the different funds!

Challenges and solutions

What we need for the future is:

One good baseline for the future could be theIT Tool on financing Natura 2000

IT tool to link mangement of Natura 2000 with financing

• Demonstrates possibilities how measures can be financed throught the integration option by EU funds

• Pilots show how EU and national level can be linked

• Gives also a clearer picture on funding gaps

Financing Natura 20002nd edition!

Updating the handbook

Provide better tools how to use funds for site managing by:

http://financing-natura2000.moccu.com/

Systematic analysis of 7 major EU sources

Thank you for attention!

torkler@wwf.de