European Social Fund Plus

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union’s main instrument for investing in people and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, contributing to a more Social Europe; to economic, social and territorial cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU and to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The ESF+ for the programming period 2021-2027 merges:

• the European Social Fund (ESF),
• the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
• the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived Persons (FEAD), and
• the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).

In this context, ESF+ supports policies and priorities aimed at contributing to achieving full employment, enhancing quality and productivity at work, increasing geographical and occupational mobility of workers within the Union, improving education and training systems, and promoting social inclusion and health.