Regional policy
European structural and investment funds
The European structural and investment funds (ESIF) invest in less developed European regions to help reduce economic, social and territorial disparities. The 2014-2020 ESIF thematic objectives are
- employment and labour mobility
- social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination
- education and training
The EU countries administer the funds through shared management. The websites of national managing authorities give further information about the funding available, open calls for proposals and the application procedure.
Budget: €454 billion
Eligible actions
Eligible actions include improving access to social, cultural and recreational services, transition from institutional to community-based services or providing support for physical, economic and social regeneration of deprived communities in urban and rural areas.
Eligible applicants
Organisations that can benefit from regional funding include public bodies, private sector organisations (especially small businesses), universities, associations, NGOs and voluntary organisations. Foreign firms with a base in the region can also apply, provided they meet European public procurement rules.
Contact your managing authority for more information on who can apply in your region.
Examples of projects
Berlin – Socially Integrative City (Total investment: €182,657,000 EU contribution: €171,697,580)
Responsibility for small-scale projects is delegated to residents living in deprived areas who are organised in neighbourhood management bodies. The Neighbourhood Management programme is funded by the national Social City initiative, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project helped to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of 25 disadvantaged urban districts in Saxony.
Promoting Multicultural Coexistence in Terrassa, Spain (Total investment: €21,018,000. EU contribution: €500,000)
This project was supported by the regional urban regeneration programme. It integrated social actions and urban renewal in a single transformation process, reducing the district’s segregation from the rest of the city and improving its reputation for tension and conflict.
MOZC, the Netherlands (Total investment: €11 million. EU contribution: €625,127)
MOZC is a multi-functional educational and care centre in Malburgen. Its activities include sport, cultural and recreational activities and services such as day care for children and care facilities for the elderly.
MINGO, Austria (Total investment €3,207,550. EU contribution: €1,603,775)
M(ove) IN (and) G(r)O(w) offers integrated start-up support for company founders, coaching for existing small businesses, networking events and business awards, multilingual services for firms and a neighbourhood scheme which helps to market local shopping streets and bring local consumer markets up to standard.
SucceS Kortrijk, Belgium (Total investment: €2,711,722. EU contribution: €1,355,861)
The project is an outreach initiative designed to help those who are over 16 years of age and excluded from the labour market (low skilled, long-term unemployed, low income). It provides individuals with the support and concrete opportunities to re-engage with the social and economic life of their community.
Employment
European Social Fund (ESF)
Through the European Social Fund (ESF), the EU promotes employment and job quality, better access to the labour market, support for the geographical and occupational mobility of workers and facilitating their adaptation to industrial change and to changes in production systems for sustainable development. Also, the programme aims at encouraging education and training for all and supports the transition between education and employment for young people. Objectives of the programme also include combating poverty, enhancing social inclusion, and promoting gender equality, non-discrimination and equal opportunities. Organisations and individuals interested in applying for ESF funding can consult the ESF website.
Before applying for a grant, please check the ESF operational programmes in your region/EU country. Your project application must meet the selection criteria and investment priorities of these programmes. You will have to follow the application procedures of the managing authority. Some have an ongoing procedure; others accept applications at certain times only.
Budget: €86.4 billion
Eligible actions
Activities include creating pathways to reintegrate discriminated groups into employment. Examples include projects that work with employers to identify job opportunities for disadvantaged groups or creating a culture of diversity in the workplace to combat and raise awareness of discrimination.
Eligible applicants
ESF projects are run by a wide variety of organisations known as beneficiaries, including public administrations, workers’ and employers’ organisations, NGOs, charities and companies.
The individuals who take part in an ESF project are called participants. These include, for example, older workers training for new skills, young job-seekers getting work placements, or people seeking advice on how to set up their own business.
ESF funding is available through the EU countries and regions. The ESF does not fund projects directly from Brussels.
Organisations interested in ESF funding for a project should contact the ESF managing authority in their country or region. To find the relevant ESF contact address, visit the ‘Support in your country’ section.
Individuals interested in participating in ESF projects can find the relevant ESF contact address in their country in the ‘Support in your country’ section.
National and regional ESF websites, as well as local employment services are also a good source of information on opportunities offered by the ESF.
Examples of social inclusion projects
Berlin Needs You! (2006-Ongoing), Germany (Total investment: €600,000 p.a.)
The objective of this campaign is to raise the amount of young people from migrant backgrounds involved in vocational training to 25%.
Young people have the chance to undertake training in 12 occupational areas including administration, health care, electronics, technology, design and transport. Participants also receive guidance on career options. The campaign consortium includes more than 30 schools and over 50 companies, as well as the senate administration and federal agencies.
The Foreign Lounge (FOLO) (2015-2018), Finland (Total investment: €467,000. EU contribution: €373,000)
The ESF-funded project will bring immigrant jobseekers and employers together to boost internationalisation efforts in Finnish companies.
It will help immigrants find employment, especially in companies that are expanding internationally. In addition, FOLO will provide practical support for immigrants, such as assistance in compiling competence portfolios, and new ways to demonstrate their skills in contacts with employers. The project has a total budget of EUR 470,000 and is managed by the faculty of social sciences at the University of Lapland and the Arctic Centre.
Strengthening education for Roma children (2011-2015), Slovakia (Total investment: €28, 989, 002)
This project sought to improve the educational attainment and life chances of children from marginalised Roma communities across Slovakia through three complementary activities in 200 schools for the benefit of more than 22,000 Roma pupils. Twelve continuing education programmes were developed to improve the competences of teachers and professionals who work with Roma children.
List of projects under the social inclusion theme
Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived
The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived aims to promote social cohesion within the EU by helping to meet the poverty reduction target. Its specific objective is to alleviate the worst forms of poverty in the EU by providing non-financial assistance to the most deprived persons. This includes food, clothing and personal hygiene items. Material assistance needs to go hand in hand with social inclusion measures, such as guidance and support to help people out of poverty. National authorities may also support non-material assistance to the most deprived people, to help them integrate better into society.
List of national authorities and more information
Budget: €3.8 billion
Eligible applicants
National authorities can either purchase the food and goods and supply them to partner organisations, or fund the organisations so that they can make the purchases themselves.
Fundamental rights
Rights, equality and citizenship programme
The Rights, equality and citizenship programme promotes the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, to respect the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds provided for in Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as to prevent and combat racism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance. For more information on the open calls for proposal, please consult this website.
Budget: €439 million
Eligible actions
Eligible actions include training activities, mutual learning, cooperation activities, exchange of good practices, peer reviews, development of ICT tools, awareness-raising activities, dissemination, conferences, support for main actors (key European NGOs and networks, EU countries' authorities implementing Union law, analytical activities (i.e. studies, surveys, preparation of guides).
Eligible applicants
All legally constituted public or private organisations, or international organisations from all the EU countries; Iceland and Liechtenstein are eligible. Bodies and entities which are profit-oriented shall have access to the programme only in conjunction with non-profit or public organisations.
Justice programme
The Justice programme contributes to the further development of a European area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual trust. The programme promotes judicial cooperation in criminal matters, judicial training, as well as effective access to justice in Europe, including the rights of victims of crime and procedural rights in criminal proceedings.
Budget: €378 million
Eligible actions
Eligible actions include training activities (staff exchanges, workshops, development of training modules), mutual learning, exchange of good practices, awareness-raising activities, dissemination, and conferences. Also eligible are support for principal actors (key European NGOs and networks, EU countries' authorities implementing EU law), and analytical activities (studies, data collection, surveys, guidelines).
Eligible applicants
All public or private organisations, or international organisations from all EU countries except for the UK and Denmark are eligible. Profit-oriented organisations shall have access to the programme only as part of a consortium with non-profit or public organisations.
Examples of projects
ERIO (Total investment: €338,058. EU contribution: €270,458)
The European Roma Information organisation is an international advocacy organisation that promotes political and public discussion on Roma issues by providing factual and in-depth information. Operating grants have been awarded under the Progress programme and Rights, equality and citizenship programme.
Local Welcome Policies of EU Migrants (Total investment: €1,037,541)
The project partners (several major European cities) work to remove barriers to intra-EU mobility and to full inclusion of new arrivals in the host communities. The project addresses practical issues, such as difficulties obtaining information, language barriers and promotes intercultural dialogue.
Equinet (Operating grant of €733,114 in 2013)
Equinet, the European Network of Equality Bodies promotes equality in Europe through supporting and enabling the work of national equality bodies. Equinet brings together 45 organizations from 33 European countries.
Migration and integration
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) aims to facilitate legal migration to the EU, and promotes the integration of persons from outside the EU at national, local and regional levels, as well as strengthening and developing the common European asylum system. Also, the programme aims to promote fair and effective return strategies and solidarity among EU countries. The largest share of AMIF funding (approximately 88%) is allocated through shared management. Part of the AMIF fund is managed by the Commission for emergency assistance and EU projects.
More about the priorities and published calls for proposals.
Budget: €3.1 billion
Eligible actions
Concrete actions eligible for funding can include a wide range of initiatives, such as accommodation and reception services for asylum seekers, information campaigns in non-EU countries on legal migration channels, education and language training for non-EU nationals, assistance to vulnerable persons belonging to the target groups of AMIF, information exchange and cooperation between EU states and training for staff on relevant topics of AMIF.
Eligible applicants
Eligible beneficiaries include state and federal authorities, local public bodies, non-governmental organisations, humanitarian organisations, private and public law companies and education and research organisations. All EU countries except Denmark participate in this Fund.