Cohesion Policy 2014-2020
Europe 2020 is the European Union’s ten-year growth and jobs strategy that Europe launched in 2010 that describes how Europe will overcome the crisis. The document suggest how the European countries should create the conditions for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Social parties and organizations will have a great role in helping Europe´s growth strategy. The reformed cohesion policy will make available up to EUR 351,8 billion to invest in Europe’s regions, cities and the real economy. It will be the EU’s principal investment tool for delivering the Europe 2020 goals: creating growth and jobs, tackling climate change and energy dependence, and reducing poverty and social exclusion.
European Commission manages five structural and investment funds (ESF). Here you can find the links to their official websites:
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- European Social Fund (ESF)
- Cohesion Fund (CF)
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
- European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
The European Social Fund
The European Social Fund contributes to the priorities of the Europe with regard to strengthening economic and social cohesion by improving employment opportunities and employment, and encouraging a high level of employment. For this reason it supports Member States’ policies aiming to achieve full employment and quality and productivity at work, promote social inclusion, including the access of disadvantaged people. In collaboration with EU countries, the European Commission defines the priorities of the ESF and how it allocates its resources.
Main Objectives
- Better education: boosting the adaptability of workers with new skills, and enterprises with new ways of working.
- Improving access to employment: by helping young people make the transition from school to work, or training less-skilled job-seekers to improve their job prospects. Vocational training and lifelong learning opportunities to give people new skills form a large part of many ESF projects.
- Helping disadvantaged groups to get jobs: by helping marginalized groups, the ESF projects promotes active inclusion measures which involve a series of steps to accompany them towards employment. This is part of “enhancing social inclusion’ a sign of the important role that employment plays in helping people integrate better into society and everyday life.
Why is important for the Samaritan organizations?
The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the European structural funds. Since it distributes resources for projects and activities in support of development and social and economic growth, social inclusion, employment the Social Fund involves directly non-profit organizations. For the 2014-2020 programming period will be given a support social innovation should fund innovative projects in the areas of social services, employment and training.
For more information you can contact the national support points