Sounding board on key outcomes from the LIFE Midterm Evaluation Study

A Sounding Board event organised by the European Commission was held to gather feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders involved in activities funded under the LIFE Programme. The event was organised as part of the midterm evaluation process, which aimed to assess the Programme's progress and identify improvements for its implementation until 2027.

Participants reviewed the outcomes of consultations and studies conducted through stakeholder input, data analysis, and desk research. Plenary sessions opened and closed the event, while parallel sessions focused on specific topics due to the broad scope of the LIFE Programme. Each parallel session discussed findings shared in advance, including key discussion points such as simplifying administrative burdens, modernising the Programme to meet policy challenges, fostering synergies with other initiatives, and promoting sustainable competitiveness.

The agenda included:

• A plenary opening with an introduction by the Commission and insights into LIFE's 33-year progression.
• Parallel sessions moderated to discuss study outcomes, supplemented by short presentations and group feedback.
• A closing plenary summarising the session’s outcomes and offering concluding remarks from the Commission.

This event provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review analyses, share feedback, and contribute examples to refine the LIFE Programme's effectiveness and alignment with EU priorities.