European Social Fund

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the EU's most important tool for implementing social and labour market policies, domains that are otherwise largely the responsibility of the Member States.

ESF-related activities during the new funding period will have a major impact on the organisations and individuals whom the Fund is designed to benefit.

The Greens argue that the top priority of the ESF must be to combat youth unemployment.

We believe that the Fund's scope must extend beyond employment-related issues to projects tackling poverty and exclusion, for example.

We want it to cover all citizens, not just the working population and job-seekers.

The adopted report will make €6 billion available to fund the implementation of European youth guarantee schemes.

We succeeded in broadening the scope of the ESF to include children, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

The Fund will also have a simplified funding application procedure, making it easier for small NGOs to obtain support.

25% of the EU's Structural Funds will be reserved for use under the ESF.

This money will be used to invest in education and training, as opposed to infrastructure.