15 March 2008 LIFE WATCH is launched in Amsterdam LIFE WATCH, a new European research initiative, was officially launched in Amsterdam, on March 12. read complete news
10 January 2008 List of SPA suspended in Italy Regional tribunal suspends Environment minister decree on the Special Protected Areas list in Italy. read complete news
1 October 2007 The 2007 LIFE+ selection round is now officially open The Commission has published the application files for LIFE+ read complete news
9 June 2007 The LIFE+ regulation has finally been approved The LIFE+ regulation has been published on the Official Journal. Last May 23, the European Parliament has voted in favour of the LIFE+ regulation already approved by the Council on 14 May. It enters into force on June 12 2007. read complete news
7 May 2007 The true nature of Europe’s nature policy according to the representatives of EU economic interest groups The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a consultative body of the main EU institutions, has expressed a substantially negative opinion on Communication from the Commission on Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 - and beyond . The EESC, which is made up of representatives of Europe's employers' organizations, trade unions, farmers, consumer groups and professional associations, does not seem to believe that there is a real will, beyond all the beautiful words and good intentions, of EU insitutions to reduce loss of biodiversity.The negative opinion concerns both the form and the substance of the communication, as shown in some of the quotations listed below. read complete news
28 March 2007 Conciliation Committee agrees on the future of LIFE+ The Conciliation Committee, which includes representatives of the three European institutions, the Council, the Parliament and the Commission, has reached last night a compromise on the new financial instrument for the environment, LIFE+... read complete news
16 March 2007 The Natura 2000 tornado strikes Bulgaria Even before the presentation by the Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment and Water of the official list of proposed Natura 2000 sites to the European Commission, individuals and civil organizations are taking a stand in favour and against the European network of protected areas. read complete news
25 January 2007 The European Union approves the Italian Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 On January 12, the EU has approved the plan on which the 21 regional rural programs will be based. The document analyses several environmental aspects, such as biodiversity, water and soil, listing the problems caused by agriculture and the financial measures needed to solve them. read complete news
16 January 2007 Results of the opinion poll on management of the future LIFE+ funds Comunità Ambiente has conducted an opinion poll on the future of Natura 2000 funding with the new financial instrument LIFE+. It asked the visitors of Comunità Ambiente’s website whether LIFE funds destined to Natura 2000 should be allocated with a national/regional criteria or on the basis of the quality of the projects, as in the past. read complete news
10 January 2007 The 2007 Financial Law: the new developments for nature conservation in Italy Within the next three months, all regions and autonomous provinces will have to adopt conservation measures and, if needed, management plans for the Natura 2000 sites, on the basis of minimum standards which will be defined by the Ministry of Environment with a decree. read complete news
15 December 2006 Another step forward for LIFE+ approval Last November 28 the Conciliation Committee was officially set up. Its task is to reach a compromise between the Council position (of 27/06/2006) and the amendments proposed by the Parliament (on 24/10/2006) to the LIFE+ regulations. The first official meeting of the Committee is foreseen by next February/March, while the unofficial meetings will start in January. read complete news
6 December 2006 Start the seventh research framework program Last November 30, the European Parliament adopted the new European framework research program, relative to the period 2007-2013. read complete news
24 October 2006 LIFE+: The European Parliament defends the EU management of environmental funds, turning down the proposal of the Commission The European Parliament has approved by an almost unanimous vote the proposal by the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee of the new financial instrument for the environment, LIFE+, which foresees the exclusive management of funds by the Commission, as it was for LIFE. read complete news
17 October 2006 Opinion poll on the LIFE+ funding for the Natura 2000 network In the next few weeks the European institutions should come to an agreement on the criteria to adopt for LIFE+ funding, including those to be directed at the Natura 2000 network. Comunità Ambiente considers a useful contribution to ask the opinion of the visitors of our website, a part of whom has already had experience with community funds, on one fundamental aspect of future EU financing for the environment. read complete news
4 October 2006 A new document on the opportunities to finance the Natura 2000 network The result of a research on the community funds for Natura 2000 in Italy during the period 2007-2013, carried out by Comunità Ambiente, is now available. read complete news
28 September 2006 New EU Parliament and Council regulation lays down the rules for community institutions to inform and involve the public in environmental decisions. The role of NGOs is strengthened. Last September 6, the EU Parliament and the Council have adopted a regulation that requires, as of July 2007, EU institutions to involve the public in environmental decision making and to facilitate access to environmental information. read complete news
22 September 2006 Life +: clash between EU Commission and EU Parliament on environmental funding? Last September 14, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament voted against delegating management of part of the budget of the new financial instrument for the environment, LIFE+, to Member States. Delegation had been proposed by the Commission and the Council. read complete news
