- Sector
- Public
- Level of governance
- EUNational
- Country
- AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSweden
- Lighthouse
- Atlantic and Arctic basinMediterranean Sea basinBaltic and North Sea basinDanube-Black Sea
- Managing institutions
- Shared management by the European Commission and national authorities in Member States
- Mission Objectives
- 1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity2. Pollution prevention and elimination3. Carbon Neutral and Circular Blue Economy
Description of the funding initiative
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF +) brings together four funding instruments that were separate in the programming period 2014-20: the European Social Fund (ESF), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) the Youth Employment Initiative and the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).. With a budget of €142.7 billion for the period 2021-2027, the ESF+ finances the implementation of the principles from the European Pillar for Social Rights through actions in the areas of employment, education & skills and social inclusion. The ESF+ also support EU policy implementation and national structural reforms in these fields, thus contributing to Member States’ efforts to reduce unemployment, advance quality and equal opportunities in education and training and improve social inclusion and integration. In particular, it focuses on the following objectives:
- Social Inclusion
- Active inclusion
- Socio-economic integration of third-country nationals
- Socio-economic integration of marginalised communities, such as Roma people
- Equal access to quality services and modernising social protection systems
- Social integration of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion
- Addressing material deprivation
- Education And Skills
- Better education and training systems at all levels
- Equal access to quality education and training
- Upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning for all
- Employment
- Access to quality employment for all, including youth employment
- Modernising labour market institutions and services
- Gender-balanced labour market participation
- Adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change
Under the ESF+ shared management strand, the European Commission does not provide direct funding for projects. Member States and regions are responsible for the implementation of ESF+ funds. They can largely decide how they wish to implement ESF+ funding. In agreement with the Commission, Member States may choose to have only a single national ESF+ programme, implement the ESF+ through a set of regional programmes or combine both approaches. ESF+ managing authorities will then select projects based on their relevance to national and/or regional programmes.
Overview of eligibility requirements for applicants
The ESF+ offers funding to public administrations, workers’ and employers’ organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and charities, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Rules on co-financing
A key principle of ESF+ shared management, co-financing allows that both the EU and a Member State’s budget contribute to the total budget of an ESF+ programme. Depending on the area of investment and the development level of the region in which the activities are taking place, the EU co- financing rate can vary between 50% and 95%
Procedures to submit proposal
Details on the adopted programmes and their managing authorities are provided on the national pages, which can be accessed by clicking on the links below.
Organisations and individuals interested in applying for ESF+ funding – or wishing to submit a project proposal – should consult their national/regional ESF+ portals. Links to portals can also be found on the national pages, which provide contact details for ESF+ Managing Authorities.
Relevant websites
https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en
https://social-economy-gateway.ec.europa.eu/eu-funding-programmes/european-social-fund_en
Contact points
To find national contacts, see https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/support-your-country
