European Social Fund+
The ESF+ funds research and projects that advance employment, social inclusion, and workforce skills in the EU, with a focus on green and digital transitions and building a resilient workforce.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (EaSI call for proposals annual submission deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: ESF+ overall budget: €99.26–142.7 billion (2021–2027); individual project sizes vary by call and country.
Summary: Supports projects advancing employment, social inclusion, and workforce skills across the EU, with a focus on green and digital transitions.
Key Information: This is a forecasted call—dates and details may shift; check program page for updates.
Description
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union’s main instrument for investing in people, supporting Member States in addressing employment, social inclusion, education, and skills challenges. The fund is designed to help the EU recover from the COVID-19 crisis, promote high employment and fair social protection, and foster a resilient workforce prepared for the green and digital transitions. ESF+ operates through both national/regional (shared management) and EU-wide (direct management, notably via the EaSI strand) funding channels, with priorities set for each programming period and annual calls for proposals.
