The updated use and intended use of simplified cost options in European Social Fund (ESF), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund (CF) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) report is now available.

For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission proposes to further strengthen the Union’s social dimension with a new and improved European Social Fund, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and a more effective European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).

In Latvia celebration of the "60 years of European Social Fund" focused on videos with personal stories related to ESF projects. Check out the videos below and see the positive impact it has had on Latvian citizens.

Two new reports under the framework of ESF Performance and Thematic Reports have just been published:

On 8-9 March, Fi compass ESF Conference “Financial instruments funded by the European Social Fund – boosting social impact”.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the European Social Fund.

Financial instruments under the ESF can play a key role in increasing the resources available and addressing new social challenges.

On Tuesday evening the European Commission's RegioStars Awards ceremony took place in Brussels as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities.

The group of independent Cohesion Policy experts presented its final report for a simplified EU funds framework after 2020.

In 2017 viert het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF), Europa's oudste en belangrijkste instrument om in mensen te investeren, zijn 60-jarig bestaan.

De Commissie heeft een evaluatieverslag bekendgemaakt van de investeringen in het kader van het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) in de periode 2007-2013, met voor elke lidstaat een specifiek verslag.

Following a recent seminar with Spanish representatives from each of the regional public employment and social services, the ESF implementing bodies and from the central administration, a report provides the main conclusions for a better coordination of the employment and social services in Spain.

The 2016 Conference on Counterfactual Methods for Policy Impact Evaluation (COMPIE II) called for a far wider use of counterfactual methods for ESF programme evaluations and for more interaction with, and more direct involvement of the research community.

On 4 October 2016, the European Commission adopted a Communication that highlights the main achievements of the Youth Guarantee and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) since their launch in 2013

The evaluation report 'Pilot projects to carry out ESF related counterfactual impact evaluations' sheds light on the effectiveness of some European Social Fund (ESF) interventions.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation in the context of its ex-post evaluation of the European Social Fund (ESF) during the 2007-2013 programming period.

Today, the Commission adopted a Communication on the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to the EU's growth strategy, the Investment Plan and the Commission's priorities over the next decade.

An extraordinary meeting of managing authorities on 25 September discussed how to optimise the use of the ESF and the FEAD to support the integration of asylum seekers and refugees and exchange good practice and experience in this field

Report calls for strengthening cooperation in education and training up to 2020 and especially to promote social inclusion.

Two days after an agreement paving the way for a new support programme for Greece, the European Commission revealed plans to help Greece maximise its use of EU funds. As mandated by the Euro Summit on 12/13 July, this will help mobilise more than €35 billion up to 2020 to support the Greek economy, provided that the conditions agreed upon by the Euro Summit will be met.

Starting with Sweden and France, a new regulation reduces administrative burden for ESF and YEI projects, allows quicker reimbursement and makes programmes simpler, safer, quicker and more oriented towards outputs and results

Member States continue to make progress in Roma integration, but further efforts are necessary. This is the conclusion of an annual Commission report.

Today the European Commission will make almost 1 billion euro available for the young unemployed

The economic situation in the EU started gradually improving nearly two years ago, and most Member States have recently registered positive GDP growth. Employment has started picking up, with improvements now materialising in most sectors.

The European Institute of Public Administration - EIPA - with the institutional and financial support of 12 European public partners – invites applications to the fifth European Public Sector Award – EPSA 2015.

The European Commission proposes to make 1 billion euro from the Youth Employment Initiative available as early as this year. This change will increase by up to 30 times the pre-financing Member States receive to boost youth employment - reaching up to 650 000 young people and helping them get into work, faster.

De gevolgen en lessen van de economische crisis voor jobs en levensstandaarden zijn het onderwerp van de laatste evaluatie van de „Werkgelegenheids- en sociale ontwikkelingen in Europa”, die op 15 januari door de Commissie werd gepubliceerd.

On 18 November 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Ireland, paving the way for more than €500 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

De Europese Groep voor praktijkgemeenschap aangaande gendermainstreaming (GenderCoP) heeft een instrument ontwikkeld om de kwaliteit en efficiëntie van de procedures van de structuurfondsen op EU- en lidstaatniveau te verbeteren. Het instrument verschaft duidelijke uitleg over ESF-vereisten en geeft voorbeelden van goede praktijken voor de wijze waarop gendergelijkheid bereikt kan worden in alle cycli van het ESF.

On 30 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Spain, paving the way for more than €7.5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 30 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Croatia, paving the way for more than €1.5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 30 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Slovenia, paving the way for more than €700 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Luxembourg, paving the way for €20 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Malta, paving the way for more than €100 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with the United Kingdom, paving the way for more than €4.9 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Sweden, paving the way for €774 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

Op 29 oktober 2014 heeft de Commissie de partnerschapsovereenkomst met België aangenomen. Hiermee is de weg voorbereid voor meer dan 1 miljard EUR (huidig prijspeil) financiering van het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) in de komende zeven jaar.

On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Italy, paving the way for more than €10 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 17 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Austria, paving the way for €442 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

The European Commission organised a policy discussion with Member States on the modernisation of public administration.

On 7 October 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Finland, paving the way for more than €500 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

Het eindverslag over de doeltreffendheid, efficiëntie en relevantie van de lerende netwerken van het ESF werd op 3 juli gepubliceerd. De netwerken zijn voor verbetering vatbaar, maar hebben bewezen dat ze een waardevol platform zijn om ideeën, vaardigheden en innovatieve benaderingen uit te wisselen, zo bevestigt het rapport.

On 29 August 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Hungary, paving the way for more than €4.7 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 26 August 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with the Czech Republic, paving the way for more than €3.4 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

Op 22 augustus 2014 heeft de Commissie de partnerschapsovereenkomst met Nederland aangenomen. Hiermee is de weg geplaveid voor meer dan 500 miljoen EUR (huidig prijspeil) financiering van het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) in de komende zeven jaar.

On 8 August 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with France, paving the way for more than €6 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 7 August 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Bulgaria, paving the way for around €1.5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years - a 20% increase compared to the previous period.

On 6 August 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Romania, paving the way for close to €5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 30 July 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Portugal, paving the way for €7.5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

The European Commission's 6th Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion published today shows that EU Cohesion Policy is delivering on the growth goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy by creating jobs and reducing disparities across Europe.

Commission and Member States meet to speed up implementation of €6bn euro dedicated fund

On 20 June 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Lithuania, paving the way for more than €1.1 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years, including measures for supporting youth employment.

On 20 June 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Estonia, paving the way for almost €600 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 20 June 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Cyprus, paving the way for almost €130 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 20 June 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Slovakia, paving the way for some €2.2 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 20 June 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Latvia, paving the way for over € 600 million (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

The European Commission has adopted today the first Operational Programme with France to use the available funding from the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to tackle youth unemployment.

On 23 May 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Poland, paving the way for over € 13 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 23 May 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Greece, paving the way for nearly €4 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

On 22 May 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Germany, paving the way for € 7.5 billion (current prices) in European Social Fund (ESF) funding in the next seven years.

De Europese Commissie heeft een evaluatie door deskundigen gepubliceerd over de successen van het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) in de periode tussen 2007 en 2012. Het verslag is opgesteld door een netwerk van deskundigen uit alle lidstaten en is een synthese van de belangrijkste bevindingen uit de landenverslagen waarin nationale evaluaties worden beoordeeld, en informatie uit de jaarlijkse verslagen over de uitvoering van het ESF.

On 5 May 2014, the Commission adopted the Partnership Agreement with Denmark, setting out the strategies and investment priorities for the European Structural and Investment Funds in this country.

De Europese Commissie heeft de eerste van 28 “Partnerschapsovereenkomsten” aangenomen waarin de strategieën voor Europese Structuur- en Investeringsfondsen in lidstaten en regio’s van de EU zijn vastgelegd.

Concerted action by the European Commission has put Roma integration firmly on the political agenda across Europe.

Tijdens de ESF-openingsconferentie, op 6-7 februari in Brussel, wordt onderzocht welke beleidsmaatregelen het ESF in het kader van de nieuwe investeringsprioriteiten kan en moet ondersteunen, en worden nieuwe manieren bekeken om het ESF in te zetten.

The Commission has adopted a common set of standards to improve consultation, participation and dialogue with partners during the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

On 16 December, the Council adopted the cohesion policy package for 2014-2020, marking the end of two and a half years of negotiations.

Lidstaten hebben nieuwe wettelijke verplichting om tastbare resultaten te behalen voor de insluiting van Roma

On 5 December, the Council adopted a regulation aimed at facilitating the use of funding from the EU cohesion policy for 2007-2013 in order to counter the crisis. This confirmed an agreement reached earlier between the Lithuanian presidency and representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission.

Langzaam maar zeker worden Europese burgers bekender met het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) en wat het doet. De enquête die Eurobarometer in 2013 heeft gehouden over het sociale klimaat in Europa bevestigt deze toenemende bekendheid. Op de vraag of ze wel eens van het ESF hadden gehoord, antwoordde 44 % van de respondenten met ja; in 2006 was dat 33 %.

Eén dag na de goedkeuring van het Meerjarig Financieel Kader (MFK) van de EU voor de periode 2014-2020 heeft het Europees Parlement vandaag de Verordening betreffende het Europees Sociaal Fonds en de Verordening houdende Gemeenschappelijke Bepalingen voor alle Europese Structuur- en Investeringsfondsen goedgekeurd.

Het Europees Parlement heeft vandaag het meerjarig financieel kader (MFK) van de EU voor 2014-2020 goedgekeurd.

Op 8 oktober publiceerde de Europese Commissie samen met de OESO de resultaten van een uitgebreide enquête over de taal- en rekenvaardigheden en de ICT-vaardigheden in 17 EU-lidstaten en andere landen. In elk land werden de competentieniveaus van 5000 mensen in de werkende leeftijd (16-65 jaar) beoordeeld.

The European Commission has today approved Croatia’s investment plan to use EU cohesion policy funds worth €449.4m allocated to the country when it joined the EU on 1st July 2013.

Achtergronddocumenten bieden methodologische ondersteuning bij het voorbereiden van nieuwe operationele programma's

De Commissie heeft vandaag de mededeling "Samen aan de slag voor de jongeren in Europa – Een oproep tot actie ter bestrijding van jeugdwerkloosheid" gepubliceerd. Hierin wordt nogmaals benadrukt dat bij alle inspanningen voor het stimuleren van de economische groei de bestrijding van jeugdwerkloosheid de hoogste prioriteit heeft.

De Commissie heeft vandaag voorgesteld de overeenkomst voor een verhoogd EU-aandeel in investeringen in Griekenland, Cyprus en Portugal met nog eens twee jaar te verlengen en Roemenië en Slowakije meer tijd te geven voor het besteden van middelen uit het cohesiefonds.

With Croatia's accession to the EU coming up shortly, preparations are under way to swiftly deploy ESF activities

Nieuw voortgangsverslag toont flexibiliteit en versnelde deelname aan ESF-acties en laat zien welke concrete resultaten ter plaatse worden bereikt

De Commissie stelt regels voor om het Jeugdwerkgelegenheidsinitiatief tot werkelijkheid te maken. Dit nieuwe instrument is in februari door de Europese Raad voorgesteld en er is een budget van 6 miljard euro beschikbaar voor de periode 2014-2020.

Een recent rapport beschrijft de relatie tussen werkgelegenheid en de biodiversiteitsdoelstellingen van Europa - en bekijkt welke nieuwe vaardigheden werknemers daarvoor moeten leren.

The European Commission has welcomed the political agreement reached on the proposed Youth Guarantee Recommendation.

Onder de kleinere begroting 2014-2020 waar de Europese Raad mee heeft ingestemd, valt ook de financiering van maatregelen tegen jeugdwerkloosheid en de hulp aan de minstbedeelden, zaken die binnen het ESF als prioriteit zijn aangemerkt

EU Youth Report calls for youth employment and social inclusion to be top priorities

In April, the Commission had presented a working paper on a European Code of Conduct on Partnership. A number of stakeholders have already provided reactions to this principle.

Een nieuw evaluatierapport laat zien dat het ESF een belangrijke rol speelt in het financieren van initiatieven in het kader van een leven lang leren in de hele EU. Het rapport bekijkt de impact van deze activiteiten voor jongeren, oudere werknemers en laagopgeleide mensen.