European Union aid to sectors of the economy in difficulty and to less well developed regions within the EU is mainly channelled through the four Structural Funds. The Structural Funds are aimed at specific geographical areas or types of region.
The four Structural Funds are
- European Social Fund (ESF)
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
- Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)
The ERDF and ESF are of principal interest to the UK LIS sector.
The four funds are used to fulfil projects justified under one of three Objectives. Not all Structural Funds are available within all Objectives. Under Objective 1, only the following regions of the UK are eligible for support in the period 2000 to 2006: South Yorkshire, West Wales and the Valleys, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Merseyside. The regions of Northern Ireland and of the Highlands and Islands were eligible in the period 1994 to 1999, but are not eligible for support in 2000 to 2006. The contacts at the end of this page can give further advice on which areas of the UK are eligible under which Objective.
- Objective 1: helps redevelop regions seriously behind the EU average.
- Objective 2: helps convert regions or areas affected by industrial decline and the redevelopment of rural areas.
- Objective 3: helps improve the situation of the long-term unemployed, young people and the socially excluded, and also helps working people adjust to changes in industry and production systems.
- INTERREG which aims to stimulate cross-border, trans-national and inter-regional co-operation.
- LEADER which promotes rural development through the initiatives of local action groups.
- EQUAL which provides for the development of new ways of combating all
forms of discrimination and inequality, which prevent men and women getting
jobs.
- URBAN which encourages the economic and social regeneration of towns,
cities and suburbs in crisis.
Useful web sites:
UK ESF information:
http://www.esfnews.org.uk
EU ERDF information:
http://www.inforegio.org
Contact:
European Social Fund (ESF).
ESF Unit, Department for Education & Employment,
Level 1, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA.
Tel: 020 7273 5026. Fax: 020 7273 5540.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Ian Tutt, Department of Trade and
Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.
Tel: 020 7215 2576. Fax: 020 7215 5579.
Regional European Funds Directorate.
Mr Ulwin Smartt, Department of Trade
and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.
Tel: 020 7215 2557. Fax: 020 7215 5579.
E-mail: ulwin.smartt@dti.gsi.gov.uk.