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The European Social Fund: Investing in people

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation reforming the European Social Fund (ESF) for the years 2000-2006. This forms part of the Agenda 2000 reform package and would effectively make the ESF the financial arm of the EU's Employment Strategy. Th...

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation reforming the European Social Fund (ESF) for the years 2000-2006. This forms part of the Agenda 2000 reform package and would effectively make the ESF the financial arm of the EU's Employment Strategy. The overall aim of the proposal is to ensure a minimum level of participation by the Fund in the areas outlined for ESF activity, (unemployment, social inclusion, education and training, economic and social change, equal opportunities) while still permitting Member States to decide their own priorities for ESF investment. The proposed Regulation sets out measures aimed at strengthening the policy focus of ESF activities, harnessing them in support of the European Employment Strategy and of the National Action Plans designed to implement it. The proposal also seeks to rationalize the operation and structure of the Fund, to ensure optimal targeting and impact, and to simplify and decentralize the administrative and financial processes. Increased involvement of regional and local authorities, NGOs and relevant interest groups in all phases of the process is provided for, in order to improve implementation of ESF activities. Within the overall Structural Funds, a new Objective 3 is introduced, aimed at supporting the adaptation and modernization of education, training and employment policies and systems across the EU. This new objective is horizontal and should provide a common policy framework for all ESF interventions. It will also fund human resources development outside Objectives 1 and 2, to ensure a coherent EU-wide human resources development strategy. The proposal would also combine the existing ESF-funded Community Initiatives, Employment and Adapt, in one. This combined initiative would be aimed at combating discrimination and inequalities in access to the labour market.