European Social Fund

Aims of the European Social Fund in the new Programming Period 2000-2006

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the EU's financial instrument for investing in people. Since 1957, the ESF has used a joint-funding principle to add to what Member States do to improve people's job prospects and help develop their skills.

The ESF's mission is to help prevent and fight unemployment, to make Europe's workforce and companies better-equipped to face new challenges, and to prevent people losing touch with the labour market.

• It helps develop the skills of people, especially those who face particular difficulties in finding a job, staying in work, or returning to work after an absence
• It supports Member States in their efforts to put new active policies and systems in place to fight the underlying causes of unemployment and to improve skills
• It tailors this support to the specific requirements of regions facing particular problems