Strategic report 2019 on the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds

The main purpose of the European Structural and Investment Funds (“ESI Funds” or “ESIF”) is to foster lasting socio-economic convergence, resilience and territorial cohesion. The ESI Funds deliver a critical mass of investments in priority areas of the EU through shared management between the Commission and the Member States. By supporting job creation, growth and investment, strengthening the Single Market, the Energy Union and economic governance these investments respond to the needs of the real economy.

This second strategic report is based on the Member States’ implementation and progress reports on the implementation of the 2014-2020 ESIF programmes until the end of 2018. By that time, 72% of the available ESIF resources were committed5. Projects already funded are having a growing impact in key policy areas, for example:

• more than 1.6 million businesses – including farms – are being supported;
• 300,000 new jobs are being created by supported firms;
• 26 million people have received help for training, education or job-seeking;
• 8.3 million households will have access to better broadband;
• more than 3,900 km of railway lines are being built or reconstructed;
• 60 million people are benefitting from ongoing projects in the health sector.

This report and the ESI Funds’ Open Data Platform give a thorough overview of progress in all the thematic areas.

The current policy focus and its adaptable framework are allowing the ESI Funds to make a major contribution to new and emerging challenges. Most funding areas already support UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate adaptation and risk reduction actions, and this focus can be boosted within the ESIF programmes as needed.