Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of  5 July 2006  on the European Social Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999
Date: 2006-07-05
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: European Social Fund, economic and social cohesion, employment policy, gender equality, powers of the institutions (EU), social integration, sustainable development

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REGULATION (EC) No 1081/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the European Social Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999

of 5 July 2006

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO-
PEAN UNION,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 148 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (2),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006
laying down general provisions on the European
Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund
and the Cohesion Fund (4) establishes the framework for
action by the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund
and lays down, in particular, the objectives, principles
and rules concerning partnership, programming, evalua-
tion and management. It is therefore necessary to define
the mission of the European Social Fund (ESF) in relation
to the tasks prescribed under Article 146 of the Treaty
and in the context of the work by Member States and
the Community towards developing a coordinated
strategy for employment under Article 125 of
the
Treaty.

Specific provisions concerning the type of activities
which may be financed by the ESF under the objectives
set out in Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 should be laid
down.

The ESF should strengthen economic and social cohesion
by improving employment opportunities within the
framework of
the tasks entrusted to the ESF by
Article 146 of the Treaty and of the tasks entrusted to
the Structural Funds by Article 159 of the Treaty,
in
accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC)
No 1083/2006.

This is all the more important in the light of the chal-
lenges arising from the enlargement of the Union and
the phenomenon of economic globalisation.
In this
connection,
the European social
the importance of
model and its modernisation should be acknowledged.

(1) OJ C 234, 22.9.2005, p. 27.
(2) OJ C 164, 5.7.2005, p. 48.
(3) Opinion of

the European Parliament of 6 July 2005 (not yet
published in the Official
Journal), Council Common Position of
12 June 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Posi-
tion of the European Parliament of 4 July 2006 (not yet published
in the Official Journal).

(4) See p. 25 of this Official Journal.

In accordance with Articles 99 and 128 of the Treaty,
and with a view to refocusing the Lisbon strategy on
growth and jobs, the Council has adopted an integrated
package comprising Broad Economic Policy Guidelines
setting out
and Employment Guidelines,
employment objectives, priorities and targets.
In this
the Brussels European Council of 22 and
regard,
23 March 2005 called for the mobilisation of all appro-
priate national and Community resources,
including
cohesion policy.

the latter

the integration of migrants,

New lessons have been learnt
from the Community
initiative EQUAL, especially in respect of the combina-
tion of local, regional, national and European action.
These lessons should be integrated into ESF support. Par-
ticular attention should be paid to the participation of
target groups,
including
those seeking asylum, the identification of policy issues
innovation and
and their subsequent mainstreaming,
experimentation techniques, methodologies for transna-
tional cooperation, outreach to groups marginalised in
relation to the labour market, the impact of social issues
on the internal market, and access to and management
of projects taken on by non-governmental organisations.

The ESF should support the policies of Member States
which are closely in line with the guidelines and recom-
mendations under the European Employment Strategy
and the relevant objectives of the Community in relation
to social inclusion, non-discrimination, the promotion of
equality, and education and training, in order to better
contribute to the implementation of the objectives and
targets agreed at the Lisbon European Council of 23 and
24 March 2000 and at the Goteborg European Council
of 15 and 16 June 2001.

(6)

(7)

(8)

The ESF should also act to tackle the relevant dimensions
and consequences of demographic changes in the active
population of the Community, in particular through life-
long vocational training.

(9) With a view to better anticipating and managing change
and increasing economic growth, employment opportu-
nities for both women and men, and quality and produc-
tivity at work under the Regional competitiveness and
employment and Convergence objectives, assistance
from the ESF should focus, in particular, on improving
the adaptability of workers and enterprises, enhancing
human capital and access to employment and participa-
tion in the labour market, reinforcing the social inclu-
sion of disadvantaged people, combating discrimination,
encouraging economically inactive persons to enter the
labour market and promoting partnerships for reform.

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(10)

in the least developed
In addition to these priorities,
regions and Member States, under
the Convergence
objective and with a view to increasing economic
growth, employment opportunities for both women and
men, and quality and productivity at work, it is neces-
sary to expand and improve investment
in human
capital and to improve institutional, administrative and
judicial capacity, in particular to prepare and implement
reforms and enforce the acquis.

(11) Within the range of these priorities, the selection of ESF
interventions should be flexible in order to address the
specific challenges in each Member State, and the types
of priority action financed by the ESF should allow for a
margin of flexibility to respond to these challenges.

The promotion of innovative transnational and interre-
gional activities is an important dimension which should
be integrated in the scope of the ESF. In order to foster
cooperation, Member States should programme transna-
tional and interregional actions using a horizontal
approach or through a dedicated priority axis.

(16)

(17)

(18)

The Member States and the Commission are to ensure
that the implementation of the priorities financed by the
ESF under the Convergence and Regional competitive-
ness and employment objectives contribute to the
promotion of equality and the elimination of inequalities
between women and men. A gender mainstreaming
approach should be combined with specific action to
increase the sustainable participation and progress of
women in employment.

The ESF should also support technical assistance, with a
particular focus on encouraging mutual learning through
exchanges of experience and dissemination of good
practice and on highlighting the contribution of the ESF
to the policy objectives and priorities of the Community
in relation to employment and social inclusion.

Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 provides that rules on
eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national
level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to
lay down specific provisions. Specific provisions should
therefore be laid down for the exceptions related to the
ESF.

(19)

In the interest of clarity, Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July
1999 on the European Social Fund (1) should therefore
be repealed,

It is necessary to ensure that the action of the ESF is
consistent with the policies provided for under the Euro-
pean Employment Strategy and to concentrate ESF
support on the implementation of the guidelines and
recommendations under that strategy.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

and

effective

implementation of

Efficient
actions
supported by the ESF depends on good governance and
partnership between all relevant territorial and socio-
economic actors, and in particular the social partners
including those at national,
and other stakeholders,
regional and local
level. The social partners have a
central role in the broad partnership for change, and
their commitment to strengthening economic and social
cohesion by improving employment and job opportu-
nities is essential. In this context, where employers and
workers collectively contribute to financially supporting
ESF actions, this financial contribution, although private
expenditure, would be included for the purposes of
calculating ESF co-financing.

Article 1

Subject matter

1.
This Regulation establishes the tasks of the European
Social Fund (ESF), the scope of its assistance, specific provisions
and the types of expenditure eligible for assistance.

The ESF is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006

2.
and by this Regulation.

Article 2

Tasks

The ESF should support actions in line with the guide-
lines and relevant recommendations under the European
Employment Strategy. However, changes to the guide-
lines and recommendations would require the revision
of an operational programme only where a Member
State, or the Commission in agreement with a Member
State, considered that the operational programme should
take account of significant socioeconomic changes or
take greater or different account of major changes in
Community, national or regional priorities, or in the
light of evaluations or following implementation difficul-
ties.

1.
The ESF shall contribute to the priorities of the Com-
munity as regards strengthening economic and social cohesion
by improving employment and job opportunities, encouraging
a high level of employment and more and better jobs. It shall
do so by supporting Member States' policies aiming to achieve
full employment and quality and productivity at work, promote
social inclusion, including the access of disadvantaged people
regional and local
to employment, and reduce national,
employment disparities.

(1) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999, p. 5.

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

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In particular,
the ESF shall support actions in line with
measures taken by Member States on the basis of the guidelines
adopted under the European Employment Strategy, as incorpo-
rated into the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs, and
the accompanying recommendations.

In carrying out the tasks referred to in paragraph 1, the
2.
ESF shall support the priorities of the Community as regards
the need to reinforce social cohesion, strengthen productivity
and competitiveness, and promote economic growth and
sustainable development. In so doing, the ESF shall take into
account the relevant priorities and objectives of the Community
in the fields of education and training, increasing the participa-
tion of economically inactive people in the labour market,
combating social exclusion — especially that of disadvantaged
groups such as people with disabilities — and promoting
equality between women and men and non-discrimination.

Article 3

Scope of assistance

1. Within the framework of the Convergence and Regional
competitiveness and employment objectives,
the ESF shall
support actions in Member States under the priorities listed
below:

(a) increasing adaptability of workers, enterprises and entrepre-
neurs with a view to improving the anticipation and posi-
tive management of economic change,
in particular by
promoting:

(i)

lifelong learning and increased investment in human
resources by enterprises, especially SMEs, and workers,
through the development
and implementation of
systems and strategies, including apprenticeships, which
ensure improved access to training by,
in particular,
low-skilled and older workers,
the development of
qualifications and competences, the dissemination of
e-
information and
learning, eco-friendly technologies and management
skills, and the promotion of entrepreneurship and inno-
vation and business start-ups;

communication technologies,

(ii) the design and dissemination of innovative and more
productive forms of work organisation, including better
health and safety at work, the identification of future
occupational and skills requirements, and the develop-
training and support
ment of specific employment,
services,
for workers in the
including outplacement,
context of company and sector restructuring;

(b) enhancing access to employment and the sustainable inclu-
sion in the labour market of
job seekers and inactive
people, preventing unemployment, in particular long-term
and youth unemployment, encouraging active ageing and

longer working lives, and increasing participation in the
labour market, in particular by promoting:

(i)

(ii)

the modernisation and strengthening of labour market
institutions,
in particular employment services and
other relevant initiatives in the context of the strategies
of the European Union and the Member States for full
employment;

the implementation of active and preventive measures
ensuring the early identification of needs with indivi-
dual action plans and personalised support, such as
tailored training, job search, outplacement and mobi-
lity, self-employment and business creation, including
cooperative enterprises, incentives to encourage partici-
pation in the labour market, flexible measures to keep
older workers in employment longer, and measures to
reconcile work and private life, such as facilitating
access to childcare and care for dependent persons;

(iii) mainstreaming and specific action to improve access to
employment, increase the sustainable participation and
progress of women in employment and reduce gender-
based segregation in the labour market, including by
addressing the root causes, direct and indirect, of
gender pay gaps;

(iv) specific action to increase the participation of migrants
in employment and thereby strengthen their social
integration and to facilitate geographic and occupa-
tional mobility of workers and integration of cross-
border labour markets,
including through guidance,
language training and validation of competences and
acquired skills;

(c) reinforcing the social

inclusion of disadvantaged people
with a view to their sustainable integration in employment
and combating all forms of discrimination in the labour
market, in particular by promoting:

(i) pathways to integration and re-entry into employment
for disadvantaged people, such as people experiencing
social exclusion, early school leavers, minorities, people
with disabilities and people providing care for depen-
employability measures,
dent
including in the field of the social economy, access to
vocational education and training, and accompanying
actions and relevant support, community and care
services that improve employment opportunities;

persons,

through

(ii) acceptance of diversity in the workplace and the
combating of discrimination in accessing and progres-
including through aware-
sing in the labour market,
ness-raising, the involvement of local communities and
enterprises and the promotion of
local employment
initiatives;

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(d) enhancing human capital, in particular by promoting:

partmental coordination and dialogue between relevant
public and private bodies;

(i)

the design and introduction of reforms in education
and training systems in order to develop employability,
the improvement of the labour market relevance of
initial and vocational education and training and the
continual updating of the skills of training personnel
with a view to innovation and a knowledge-based
economy;

fields,

in the relevant

(ii) capacity building in the delivery of policies and
including with
programmes
regard to the enforcement of
legislation, especially
through continuous managerial and staff training and
inspectorates and
to key services,
specific support
socio-economic actors including social and environ-
mental partners, relevant non-governmental organisa-
tions and representative professional organisations.

(ii) networking activities between higher education institu-
tions, research and technological centres and enter-
prises;

3. Within the priorities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2,
Member States may concentrate on those which are the most
appropriate to address their specific challenges.

(e) promoting partnerships, pacts and initiatives

through
networking of relevant stakeholders, such as the social part-
ners and non-governmental organisations, at the transna-
tional, national, regional and local levels in order to mobi-
lise for reforms in the field of employment and labour
market inclusiveness.

4.
The ESF may support actions set out in Article 3(2) of
this Regulation throughout the territory of the Member States
eligible for support or transitional support under the Cohesion
Fund, as determined respectively in Articles 5(2) and 8(3) of
Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006.

2. Within the framework of the Convergence objective, the
ESF shall support actions in Member States under the priorities
listed below:

(a) expanding and improving investment in human capital, in

particular by promoting:

(i)

(ii)

the implementation of
in education and
training systems, especially with a view to raising
people's responsiveness to the needs of a knowl-
edge-based society and lifelong learning;

reforms

the life-cycle,

increased participation in education and training
throughout
including through actions
aiming to achieve a reduction in early school leaving
and in gender-based segregation of
subjects and
increased access to and quality of initial, vocational
and tertiary education and training;

5.
In implementing the objectives and priorities referred to
in paragraphs 1 and 2, the ESF shall support the promotion
and mainstreaming
the
Member States.

innovative

activities

of

in

The ESF shall also support transnational and interregional
6.
actions in particular
information,
experiences, results and good practices, and through developing
complementary approaches and coordinated or joint action.

through the sharing of

7.
By way of derogation from Article 34(2) of Regulation
(EC) No 1083/2006, the funding of measures under the social
inclusion priority referred to in paragraph 1(c)(i) of this Article
and within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the
European Regional Development Fund (1) may be raised to 15 %
of the priority axis concerned.

(iii) the development of human potential in research and
innovation, notably through post-graduate studies and
the training of researchers;

Article 4

Consistency and concentration of support

(b) strengthening institutional capacity and the efficiency of
public administrations and public services at national,
regional and local level and, where relevant, of the social
partners and non-governmental organisations, with a view
to reforms, better regulation and good governance espe-
cially in the economic, employment, education, social,
environmental
by
promoting:

in particular

judicial

fields,

and

(i) mechanisms to improve good policy and programme
design, monitoring and evaluation,
including through
studies, statistics and expert advice, support for interde-

the

that

ensure

The Member States

1.
actions
shall
supported by the ESF are consistent with and contribute to
actions undertaken in pursuance of the European Employment
Strategy. In particular, they shall ensure that the strategy set
out
in the national strategic reference framework and the
actions set out in the operational programmes promote the
objectives, priorities and targets of the strategy in each Member
State within the framework of the national reform programmes
and national action plans for social inclusion.

(1) See p. 1 of this Official Journal.

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employment

The Member States shall also concentrate support, where the
ESF can contribute to policies, on the implementation of the
relevant
under
Article 128(4) of the Treaty and of the relevant employment-re-
lated objectives of the Community in the fields of social inclu-
sion, education, and training. Member States shall do so in a
stable programming environment.

recommendations made

resources

2. Within operational programmes,
shall be
directed towards the most important needs and focus on those
policy areas where ESF support can have a significant effect in
attaining the objectives of the programme. To maximise the
efficiency of ESF support, operational programmes shall, where
appropriate, take particular account of the regions and localities
facing the most serious problems, such as deprived urban and
regions, declining rural and fisheries-dependent
outermost
areas, and areas particularly adversely affected by business relo-
cations.

3. Where appropriate, a concise section on the contribution
of the ESF to promoting the relevant labour market aspects of
social inclusion shall be included in Member States' national
reports under the open method of coordination on social
protection and social inclusion.

4.
The indicators included in the operational programmes
co-financed by the ESF shall be strategic in nature and limited
in number and shall reflect those used in the implementation
of the European Employment Strategy and in the context of
the relevant Community objectives in the fields of social inclu-
sion and education and training.

5.
Evaluations undertaken in relation to ESF action shall also
assess the contribution of the actions supported by the ESF to
the implementation of the European Employment Strategy and
to the Community objectives in the fields of social inclusion,
non-discrimination and equality between women and men, and
education and training in the Member State concerned.

Article 5

Good governance and partnership

3.
The managing authority of each operational programme
shall encourage adequate participation of the social partners in
actions funded under Article 3.

Under the Convergence objective, an appropriate amount of
ESF resources shall be allocated to capacity-building, which
shall include training, networking measures, strengthening the
social dialogue and activities jointly undertaken by the social
partners, in particular as regards adaptability of workers and
enterprises referred to in Article 3(1)(a).

The managing authority of each operational programme
4.
shall encourage adequate participation and access by non-
governmental organisations to the funded activities, notably in
the domains of social
inclusion, gender equality and equal
opportunities.

Article 6

Gender equality and equal opportunities

The Member States shall ensure that operational programmes
include a description of how gender equality and equal oppor-
tunities are promoted in the preparation,
implementation,
monitoring
and evaluation of operational programmes.
Member States shall promote a balanced participation of
women and men in the management and implementation of
operational programmes at local, regional and national level, as
appropriate.

Article 7

Innovation

In the framework of each operational programme, particular
attention shall be paid to the promotion and mainstreaming of
innovative activities. The managing authority shall choose the
themes for the funding of innovation in the context of partner-
ship and shall define the appropriate implementation arrange-
ments. It shall inform the monitoring committee referred to in
Article 63 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of the themes
chosen.

1.
The ESF shall promote good governance and partnership.
Its support shall be designed and implemented at the appro-
priate territorial level taking into account the national, regional
level according to the institutional arrangements
and local
specific to each Member State.

The Member States shall ensure the involvement of the
2.
social partners and adequate consultation and participation of
other stakeholders, at the appropriate territorial
in the
preparation, implementation and monitoring of ESF support.

level,

Article 8

Transnational and interregional actions

1. Where Member States support actions in favour of trans-
national and/or interregional actions as set out in Article 3(6)
of this Regulation as a specific priority axis within an opera-
the contribution from the ESF may be
tional programme,
increased by 10 % at the priority axis level. This increased
contribution shall not be included in the calculation of the ceil-
ings set out in Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006.

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2. Member States shall, with the assistance of the Commis-
sion where appropriate, ensure that the ESF does not support
specific operations being concurrently supported through other
in particular in the
Community transnational programmes,
field of education and training.

Article 9

Technical assistance

The Commission shall promote,
in particular, exchanges of
experience, awareness-raising activities, seminars, networking
and peer reviews serving to identify and disseminate good prac-
tice and encourage mutual learning and transnational and inter-
regional cooperation with the aim of enhancing the policy
dimension and contribution of the ESF to the Community
objectives in relation to employment and social inclusion.

Article 10

Reports

The annual and final
implementation reports referred to in
Article 67 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 shall contain,
where appropriate, a synthesis of the implementation of:

(a) gender mainstreaming as well as of any gender-specific

action;

(b) action to increase participation of migrants in employment

and thereby strengthen their social integration;

(c) action to strengthen integration in employment and

thereby improve the social inclusion of minorities;

(d) action to strengthen integration in employment and social
inclusion of other disadvantaged groups, including people
with disabilities;

(e) innovative activities, including a presentation of the themes

and their results, dissemination and mainstreaming;

(f) transnational and/or interregional actions.

Article 11

Eligibility of expenditure

1.
The ESF shall provide support towards eligible expendi-
ture which, notwithstanding Article 53(1)(b) of Regulation (EC)
No 1083/2006 may include any financial resources collectively
contributed by employers and workers. The assistance shall
take the form of non-reimbursable individual or global grants,
reimbursable grants, loan interest rebates, micro-credits, guar-
antee funds and the purchase of goods and services in compli-
ance with public procurement rules.

The following expenditure shall not be eligible for a

2.
contribution from the ESF:

(a) recoverable value added tax;

(b) interest on debt;

(c) purchase of furniture, equipment, vehicles,

infrastructure,

real estate and land.

3.
The following costs shall be expenditure eligible for a
contribution from the ESF as defined in paragraph 1 provided
that
they are incurred in accordance with national rules,
including accountancy rules, and under the specific conditions
provided for below:

(a) the allowances or salaries disbursed by a third party for the
benefit of the participants in an operation and certified to
the beneficiary;

(b) in the case of grants, indirect costs declared on a flat-rate

basis, up to 20 % of the direct costs of an operation;

(c) the depreciation costs of depreciable assets listed under
paragraph 2(c), allocated exclusively for the duration of an
operation, to the extent that public grants have not contrib-
uted towards the acquisition of those assets.

The eligibility rules set out in Article 7 of Regulation (EC)
4.
No 1080/2006 shall apply to actions co-financed by the ESF
which fall within the scope of Article 3 of that Regulation.

Article 12

Transitional provisions

approved by

1.
This Regulation shall not affect either the continuation or
modification, including the total or partial cancellation, of assis-
the Commission on the basis of
tance
Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 or any other
legislation
applying to that assistance on 31 December 2006, which shall
consequently apply thereafter to that assistance or the projects
concerned until their closure.

Applications made under Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999

2.
shall remain valid.

Article 13

Repeal

1. Without prejudice
laid down in
Article 12 of this Regulation, Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 is
hereby repealed with effect from 1 January 2007.

to the provisions

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References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed

2.
as references to this Regulation.

Article 14

Review clause

Article 15

Entry in force

The European Parliament and the Council shall review this
Regulation by 31 December 2013 in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 148 of the Treaty.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 5 July 2006.

For the European Parliament

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

For the Council

The President

P. LEHTOMÄKI