Contribution of LIFE to environmental improvement Support to the ex-post evaluation of LIFE 2014-2020

ρϋoverall purpose of this case study is to gain an understanding of the enabling factors and barriers that influenced contribution of the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 to environmental improvement. The case study covers five projects that demonstrate the LIFE programme's contribution to improving the quality of water, air, and soil, and reducing noise, including projects that demonstrate integrated approaches to implementation of Air Quality Plans and Programmes and/or implementation of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). To conduct this case study the team thoroughly reviewed the existing secondary data and available sources of evidence for each project, including but not limited to the European Commission's public database website, e-Proposal, projects' layman reports (and full reports where necessary), leaflets, factsheets, brochures, and after LIFE plans. A table of literature sources can be found in Annex I. To supplement this research, an interview was arranged with a representative from each of the projects. However, due to severe flooding in Northern Italy in May 2023, two of the project representatives (SOS4LIFE and LIFE PREPAIR) were not able to provide their responses as they had more urgent demands on their time related to the flooding mitigation (see Annex II for a table on the consulted stakeholders).