The European Commission
The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm. It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The Commission is the sole EU institution tabling laws for adoption by the Parliament and the Council that: protect the interests of the EU and its citizens on issues that can't be dealt with effectively at national level.
The European Commission manages the LIFE program, through which funds various initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and nature. The beneficiary of the LIFE program can be any entity (individuals, entities and public or private) registered in a member state of the EU. The total budget of the LIFE Programme for 2014-2020 is EUR 3.4 billion, including: Environmental knitting to 2.6 billion euros and to climate- 0.8 million. The budget for the financing of projects in the financial perspective 2014-2017 is 1.347 million under the sub-program for Environment and 0.449 billion for the sub-program for Climate Action.
The standard project financing by the European Commission LIFE is up to 60% of eligible costs, however in the case of natural projects aimed at priority species and habitats to 75%.
The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW)
NFOŚiGW as the National Contact Point has the following functions:
- consultation of applications for funding from the European Commission within the framework of the LIFE program and the evaluation of their completeness;
- cooperation with the European Commission, including the Polish representation on the Steering Committee LIFE forum;
- promotional activities and informing the public about the LIFE Programme for the funding of activities in the field of environmental and climate protection;
- supporting applicants in preparing proposals, among others, through training and consultation.
Forest Research Institute
Forest Research Institute, in accordance with the statutory objectives, conducts research and development work in the field of: afforestation and forest regeneration, maintenance, use, and also ecology, nature conservation, genetics and economics and forest policy. The Institute actively participates in the development of legal acts and other documents, including those resulting from international conventions and agreements, as well as the National Forest Policy.