EU budget: Investing in people with a new Social Fund, Erasmus, Creative Europe, Globalisation Adjustment Fund and Justice, Rights and Values Fund

Investing in people and strengthening the social dimension of the European Union has been a core priority of the Juncker Commission. The next long-term EU budget clearly reflects this commitment, as the Commission proposes to reinforce, pool and better target several existing Funds that already now put people at the centre.

More specifically, the Commission proposes to establish a renewed European Social Fund, the ‘European Social Fund Plus’ (ESF+), and a strengthened and more effective European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Both are geared to invest in people: ensuring they are equipped with the right skills needed to deal with challenges and changes on the labour market, following up on the European Pillar of Social Rights. For the period 2021-2027, the European Social Fund Plus would be worth €101.2 billion, and the Globalisation Adjustment Fund €1.6 billion. The Justice, Rights and Values Fund will be worth €947 million over 7 years and will further support the development of a European Area of Justice based on the rule of law and mutual trust and ensure people can enjoy their rights. More information on the European Social Fund Plus will be available in this press release and memo as well as this factsheet. Further details on the Justice, Rights and Values Fund will be published here. The Commission also proposes to double the funding for Erasmus to €30 billion for 2021-2027 and increase the budget for Creative Europe to €1.85 billion. The Erasmus programme already enables millions of young Europeans to study, train or learn abroad while broadening their experience and awareness of Europe, and increasing their future chances on the job market. With doubled funding, Erasmus will be even more effective in supporting key political objectives such as building a European Education Area by 2025, empowering young people and promoting a European identity through youth, education and culture policies. It will also be more inclusive reaching out to people from all backgrounds. Beneficiaries will include school pupils, higher education students, trainees, teachers, trainers, youth workers, sports coaches, and also learners in vocational education and training and adult learning staff. The main goal of the Creative Europe programme is to promote, strengthen and protect European cultural and linguistic diversity, cultural heritage and creativity, as well as the competitiveness of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. Culture plays a pivotal role in addressing key societal and economic challenges, especially in promoting active citizenship, common values, wellbeing, innovation, economic growth and job creation. A press release and a factsheet on Erasmus as well as a press release and a factsheet on Creative Europe will be available online. At 13:00 today, Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioners Thyssen, Navracsics and Gabriel will give a press conference on all the aforementioned Funds.