Ukraine officially joined to the European Social Fund plus (ESF+) as an associate member. The corresponding agreement was signed by the First Deputy Prime Minister – the Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyridenko and the representative of the European Commission Roksana Minzatu.
“This is an important step towards the full integration of Ukraine into the social policy of the European Union. Membership gives us access to the fund’s resources — more than 700 million euros — to modernize labor legislation, develop employment services, and strengthen institutions in the field of social policy,” — Yulia Svyridenko emphasized.
Ukraine joined the key element of the program — the EaSI (Employment and Social Innovation) initiative, which has a budget of 762 million euros for the period 2021–2027. Funding under this program can be directed to support reforms in the field of employment and social policy, implementation of innovative solutions to improve working conditions, development of microfinancing and social investment, as well as exchange of experience, training and implementation of transnational projects.
The program provides support for the mobility of workers in order to overcome imbalances in the labor market, as well as the implementation of information campaigns, the dissemination of successful practices and communication with citizens.
Potential beneficiaries include government institutions, trade unions, employers’ associations, public organizations, social enterprises, and microfinance and social investment institutions. Funding can be provided both directly by the European Commission through the Funding & Tenders portal and through agencies of EU member states.
