LIFE Programme showcases solutions for Europe’s competitive, innovative and secure green future

Held in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Green Transition Forum 6.0 brought together European Commissioners Jessika Roswall and Ekaterina Zaharieva, alongside senior representatives of EU institutions, national governments, industry, academia and civil society. As one of the leading platforms in Central and Eastern Europe dedicated to Europe's green and industrial transformation, the Forum provided an ideal setting for discussions on Europe's next chapter: a competitive, innovative and secure future.

Against this backdrop, the LIFE Programme demonstrated its contribution to Europe's environmental, climate and energy objectives through a dedicated LIFE session, the participation of four LIFE projects showcasing their achievements, and a LIFE Pitch Corner where prospective applicants could discuss project ideas and assess their potential fit with LIFE funding priorities. Throughout the five-day forum, LIFE projects shared knowledge, exchanged experience and presented practical solutions helping to accelerate Europe's green transition.

A dedicated LIFE Programme stand further served as a hub for networking, dialogue and stakeholder engagement.. More than 100 visitors stopped at the stand seeking for information, including representatives from private companies, , public authorities, policy institutions, academia, NGOs and other organisations. Visitors received full information on LIFE funding strands, eligibility requirements, proposal development, project implementation and examples of relevant LIFE projects. Together, these activities helped reinforce the LIFE Programme's position as the EU's flagship funding instrument for environment, climate action and the clean energy transition.

The LIFE projects participating in the Forum also featured prominently in high-level discussions. Among them was LIFeHDV, which is deploying charging hubs for electric heavy-duty vehicles along the TEN-T network in Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking during the "Electrifying Mobility" session, Aleksander Rajch, project manager, highlighted the project's contribution to transport decarbonisation: 'Our intervention focused on stressing the economic and social benefits of pushing for HDV electrification and how accessible and available electromobility is, as a means of decarbonisation,' he noted .

Sofia Papadogiannaki of LIFE-SIRIUS took to the stage for the discussion on Building the Cities of Tomorrow, sharing the project's experience of integrated environmental information systems for urban heat island effects in Greece. 'LIFE SIRIUS demonstrates how scientific knowledge can be transformed into practical services that support both environmental management and public health protection,' said Sofia. 'Our approach can serve as a model for other European cities seeking to strengthen resilience to air pollution and climate-related environmental risks.'

LIFE-ACCLIMATE aims to increase crop yields, water and energy efficiency by 25% in greenhouses in Spain, powered by new technology including robots and AI. Project coordinator Oscar Rey joined the Sustainable Agriculture session, noting that AI can help greenhouse growers anticipate future challenges. 'By predicting pest risks, resource consumption and crop performance, farmers can make better decisions and use water, energy and inputs more efficiently,' he told the audience. 'These results will provide a practical pathway for more sustainable and climate-resilient greenhouse production across Europe.'

Also focusing on energy efficiency, LIFE Care4Climate 's Damir Staničić shared encouraging results from work in Slovenia during the debate on Resilience by Design, Local Action and Just Investment. The project renovated apartment buildings using sustainable and energy-efficient methods funded by blended financing, which subsequently became the standard Eco Fund financial instrument. 'The financing model includes a one-stop shop providing integrated services, comprising technical and financial assistance, together with project development assistance, to support the preparation of a stronger pipeline of bankable renovation investment,' explained Damir.

Back at the LIFE stand, a dedicated info event was packed out, confirming a strong interest in LIFE funding opportunities in Bulgaria and other Member States in region. Discussions covered the 2026 LIFE Call for Proposals, examples of existing Bulgarian LIFE projects, as well as a practical session about how to write a successful LIFE application and how to properly manage projects through the implementation period.

The successful participation of the LIFE Programme at Green Transition Forum 6.0 was coordinated by CINEA's LIFE Climate team working in close cooperation with event organisers to showcase LIFE-funded solutions and funding opportunities to a broad European audience.

LIFE projects featured at the Green transition Forum 6.0 support the EU 2030 climate and energy framework; the Directives on ambient air quality, water framework, clean and energy-efficient road transport and energy performance of buildings; the EU climate adaptation strategy and the European Climate Law.