Today in the European Parliament in Brussels, a new working group for monitoring the implementation of the LIFE program was formed. MEP Dubravka Suica was elected co-chair of the working group together with Nicola Caputo, a representative from Italy.
 
Immediately after internal polling and election of the co-chairmen, MEP Šuica assumed leadership over the working group and conduct of the meeting. The LIFE program (L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environnement), which has about 3.5 billion euros available in the period from 2014 to 2020, has the goals to fight climate change, to stop decline in nature and bio-diversity, to improve the environment, health and quality of life, to promote the sustainable use and management of natural resources and waste management, to develop strategic approaches to policy development, implementation, and information/awareness raising.
 
At the first meeting, on the initiative of MEP Šuica, it was decided that representatives of the European Commission that work directly on the LIFE program would be invited to the next meeting in order to present the achievements of the program so far.
 
Otherwise, the LIFE program is directly managed by the Commission. The LIFE program, especially its component for the environment, poses a particular financial instrument designed to be used as a platform for developing and sharing best practices and for catalyzing and accelerating developmental changes related to EU policies on environmental protection. The program also provides for the participation of third countries as it is one of the ways of achieving the objectives of the EU.