Division Stage 2:

• Submission of the full proposal:

  Applicants of eligible concept notes are invited to submit a full proposal.

• Full proposal evaluation

  The EA, following an in-depth evaluation, prepares a ‘preliminary long-list’ of ranked proposals that may be considered for financing. The ranking is based on merit, i.e. the points received, and, under the sub-programme for Environment, also in compliance with the rule that a specific percentage of the resources allocated to action grants have to be allocated to nature conservation and biodiversity, and with the geographical distribution criteria as set in Article 19(4) of the LIFE Regulation. The Commission also verifies the financial and operational capacity of the applicants to carry out the project.

• Preparation of the final list of projects to be funded and of the reserve list

  After a review phase, successful projects will be proposed for funding, within the available budget. A reserve list will be constituted with the best-ranked projects that cannot be funded in view of the available budget. The reserve list will encompass an additional 20 % of the available LIFE budget.

• Signature of the grant agreement

While the two-stage approach will be applicable throughout the duration of the multiannual work programme, the Commission may adapt the process described above in view of the experience gained.

In ranking IPs, the EA shall ensure geographical balance by indicatively allocating at least three IPs to each Member State in order to ensure that over the entire funding period from 2014 to 2020 Article 19(4) of the LIFE Regulation is observed.