The European Social Fund
The European Social Fund (ESF) is the European Union’s main tool to help both young and older workers and job seekers. Created in 1957, the fund supports measures to prevent and combat unemployment, to promote training and to improve the way the labour market functions.
In partnership with the European Union Member States, the ESF aims to achieve a high level of employment, equality between men and women, sustainable development and economic and social cohesion.
The Social Fund is the financial means to translate into concrete measures the European Employment Strategy, the process for co-ordinating the employment policies of EU governments.
Between 2007 and 2013 the ESF will grant a total of 67 billlion euro to projects across the EU.
The Social Fund in Sweden
The Social Fund in Sweden aims to contribute to speeding up change and renewal within working life. By doing so we believe that ESF can play a key role in promoting employment and growth.
The Social Fund can finance projects that:
- Gives increasing opportunities to development and renewal within working life through competence development.
- Gives increasing job-opportunities. The projects shall enhance for individuals that are far from the labor market to get a job and stay through unconventional methods.
The programme comprises the whole labour market, i.e. companies, single entrepreneurs, public sector and organizations. It is intended to create additional empowerment to employed and unemployed individuals.
Through the Social Fund a total of approximately 690 millions Euro is distributed in Sweden during the period 2007 to 2013.
The Swedish ESF Council
The Swedish ESF Council is Managing Authority for the European Social Fund 2007-2013, i.e. responsible for the implementation of the European Social Fund in Sweden.
The purpose of the Council’s work is to strengthen the individual’s positions in working life, and hence contribute to increased employment and growth. The Council consists of a central office and 8 regional offices in the administrative provinces of Sweden.
Regional partners
The programs are conducted in partnership with various interest groups to secure a broad influence on the activities and possibility to monitor and amplify the effects of the programs.
The intention is also to facilitate dissemination of experience and information. In each of the 8 regions there is a partnership consisting of local actors and representatives of the labour-market organizations.
The regional partnerships are participating in the creation of the regional plans. These plans constitute the foundation of evaluating the accomplished work.
National partners
At the national level the organizations of the labour market, public authorities and other interested social partners are represented in the Monitoring Committee.
The Committee’s task is to assess that the programs are implemented with a high degree of efficiency and quality. Further it supports the regional work, facilitates spread of experience and information, approves the regional plans and keeps a continuous dialogue with the regions.
Contact
Here you can find information about how to contact The Swedish ESF Council.
Transnational contacts
Contact information (Swedish)
More information
National structural fund programme for regional competitiveness and employment (.pdf) 482 kB
Communication Plan for the European Social Fund in Sweden 2007-2013 (.pdf) 380 Kb
Brochure, 2010 European year for combating poverty and social exclusion (.pdf) 341 kB
European Commission website about European Social Found