Maria da Graça Carvalho, EPP shadow rapporteur for this opinion in the budget committee, defended the proposal presented by the European Commission to increase the co-financing rate for LIFE projects, to 70% of eligible costs. By way of exception, the maximum co-financing rate for least developed regions projects shall be 80% of eligible costs.
Also, the VAT costs should still be eligible in the case of project beneficiaries who cannot recover VAT costs according to the VAT regulation in the respective Member State.
Maria da Graça Carvalho, who is substitute member of the Budgets Committee, has been appointed EPP shadow Rapporteur for the different reports concerning environment.