Report pursuant to Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1404/96. Life (Financial Instrument for the Environment).

Abstract

This report has been prepared pursuant to Article 7(3) of the Regulation governing LIFE, the financial instrument for the environment - Council Regulation1{EEC) No 1973/92 of 21 May 1992 modified by Council Regulation2(EC) No 1404/96 of 15 July 1996. It also fits in with SEM 2000 (the Sound and Efficient Management initiative). Articles 7{3) and 14 of the LIFE Regulation require two reports: one to evaluate the reference amount for LIFE II and one to make proposals for any adjustments to be made with a view to continuing the action beyond the second phase. The Commission has decided to make a stage-by-~tage evaluation. This first report pursuant to Article 7(3) covers the period which has elapsed since LIFE was first implemented. It outlines the next stages in the process for evaluating implementation of the Regulation, and considers the relevance of its objectives and whether they have been achieved, and whether the ideas behind the scheme remain valid. The second report will make proposals for any adjustments to be made with a view to continuing the scheme. It will also help to identify future actions.