Malta : the European Social Fund in Malta, 2007-2013

Abstract

The European Social Fund, created in 1957, is the European Union’s main financial instrument for investing in people. It supports employment and helps people enhance their education and skills. This improves their job prospects. These are the i ve priorities of ESF funding: Helping workers and enterprises adapt to changing circumstances in the economy Enhancing access to employment and participation in the workforce Improving training and skills, both for individuals, and through better education and training systems Promoting partnerships between actors such as employers, trade unions and non-governmental organisations, for reform in the i elds of employment and inclusion in the labour market Reinforcing the social inclusion of disadvantaged people and combating discrimination in the labour market Member States and regions devise their own ESF Operational Programmes in order to respond to the real needs ‘on the ground’. Over the period 2007-2013, the ESF spends over 10 billion euro per year across all Member States. This represents more than 10% of the European Union’s total budget.