The European Social Fund Plus
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union’s main instrument for investing in people. With a budget of almost EUR 99.3 billion for the period of 2021-2027, the ESF+ will provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.
The European Commission adopted its new ESF+ Regulation (regulation EU 2021/1057) on 30 June 2021. The new 'simpler but stronger’ version of the existing European Social Fund will concentrate on the challenges identified under the European Semester, in particular in order to meet social and employment challenges following the COVID-19 outbreak and with a strengthened focus on social innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed gains in labour participation, challenged educational and health systems and increased inequalities. The ESF+ will be one of the key EU instruments helping Member States to address these challenges.
ESF+ brings together four funding instruments, originally separated in the 2014-2020 programing period including: the European Social Fund (ESF); the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD); the Youth Employment Initiative; and the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
ESF+ will aim to strengthen Europe’s social dimension, by putting the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into practice through 11 specific objectives.
The European Commission’s support in the social economy sphere has been stepped up recently, with the adoption of the Social Economy Action Plan. It aims to help the European social economy thrive, tapping into its economic and job-creation potential, as well as its contribution to a fair and inclusive recovery, and the green and digital transitions.
For further information about ESF+, please visit the ESF+ website.
For preliminary information about financial instruments under the ESF, please consult the fi-compass factsheet on ESF financial instruments.
Publications
How-to
4 November 2024
14 October 2024
Case studies
Market analysis
2 April 2025
Recent videos
Empowering migrant women: Treball Solidari Microfinance
This video showcases NGO Treball Solidari’s transformative work empowering migrant women in Spain through the CONFÍA program, supported by the European Social Fund (ESF). It highlights how they enable women, excluded from traditional banking systems, to gain access to microloans, entrepreneurial training, and peer support. This programme drives greater change, helping migrant women build independent livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Cooperativism for green energy: Ecooo boosts the social economy
This video introduces Ecooo, a Spanish workers buyout cooperative that promotes renewable energy through citizen participation and social innovation. It highlights how Ecooo empowers communities to invest in solar energy projects, broadening public access to renewable energy as well as offering financial benefits. This example of a workers buyout cooperative has a strong impact to make the social economy work for the benefit of the plant.
ESF microfinance financial instruments: assisting the vulnerable
In Bulgaria, the European Social Fund (ESF) financial instruments help vulnerable groups — the unemployed, those lacking business experience and social enterprises. Through micro-credit institutions such as SIS Credit, and local banks, they were able to support startups and social enterprises who would otherwise struggle to secure financing. These instruments are key to foster economic independence and resilience in Bulgaria, transforming lives and strengthen local communities.
Events
