Funding from Europe

Background

The European Union provides financial support to its Member States to promote economic development and social inclusion. The financial support comes through the Structural Funds.

The structural funds, fund Programmes. The Programmes are cyclical, with the new cycle running from 2007 - 2013. Although some of the Programmes are running late and are being launched in 2008.

The new Objective programmes are called:

• Convergence
• Regional Competitiveness and Employment
• Co-operation

Convergence

The aim of the Convergence programme is to support the poorest members states and regions.

The main priorities are:

• Increase competitiveness
• Build a more knowledge-based economy
• Increase innovation
• Improve skills
• Promote economic inclusion

ERDF - Regional Programmes

• Use the environment as an opportunity for innovation; new markets; and business efficiency
• Enhance workforce flexibility

Priorities for the Convergence Programmes will be informed by the economic strategies and will be locally relevant, but will complement those at regional, national and European level.

There will be an ERDF Convergence programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, West Wales and the Valleys and the Highlands and Islands.

There is also ESF which is being ring fenced to be spent within the Convergence areas and for those areas phasing-in to Regional Competitiveness and Employment areas such as Merseyside and South Yorkshire.

Useful websites:

• Wales Council for Voluntary Action www.wcva.org.uk
• East of Scotland European Partnership www.esep.co.uk
• Cornwall www.cornwall.gov.uk

Regional Competitiveness and Employment

There will be funding Programmes in all areas of the UK which are not eligible for Convergence funding (see above).

Both ERDF and ESF structural funds will fund the programmes.

Regions which are classed as 'phasing-in'regions as they are lagging behind the other Regions in this category such as South Yorkshire and Merseyside will receive ring-fenced Regional Competitiveness and employment funding.

There are four main priorities:

1. To promote innovation and knowledge transfer
2. To stimulate enterprise
3. To ensure sustainable development, production and consumption
4. To build sustainable communities

The Government believes it would be beneficial to align ERDF spending directly with domestic funding through common processes and management arrangements, which would provide a more coordinated approach to regional investment.

Information as to the exact management of the fund and to how organisations can access the funding through this programme is currently unavailable in many parts of the UK including Yorkshire and the Humber.

The ERDF information below is written as it applies to Yorkshire & Humber region. It will be a useful guide for those in other regions and countries but local programmes will differ.

The new ERDF Programme

The new European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme for 2007-2013 has a far greater emphasis than previous EU Programmes on research and development, innovation and advanced business support. From the earliest stages of Programme development it was recognised that the region's universities and HEIs would be key to encouraging businesses to improve their efficiency, productivity and innovation.

Designed to capitalise on the region's opportunities rather than disadvantage, for the first time the objectives of the Programme are strongly aligned with the mainstream activities of the business support sector. There are no longer any geographical restrictions, and the targets for job creation are realistically set to reflect the emphasis on research and development and productivity gains rather than employment creation.

What can ERDF be used for?

The Programme has four main Priorities for action, in summary they are:

Priority 1 Promoting Innovation and R & D Objectives

• To stimulate and facilitate increased investment in innovation and R & D, engender a culture change and promote sustainable business practices
• To provide and support the infrastructure needed to stimulate innovation and R & D whilst ensuring the social, environmental and economic conditions are improved
• To increase and support the exploitation and commercialisation of knowledge, technologies and processes that underpin the future sustainability and growth of new and existing businesses and target clusters

Priority 2 Supporting and Stimulating Successful Enterprise Objectives

• To establish integrated business support for innovative and high growth businesses which enables them to grow more quickly
• To promote a more enterprising and entrepreneurial culture and support the growth of businesses at start-up and early stage and those with growth potential
• To promote the development of new and high technology clusters and sectors through investment in infrastructure
• To ensure that business growth supported by the Programme takes account of CO2 emissions and adopt environmental best practice

Priority 3 Sustainable Communities Objectives

• To improve connectivity to economic opportunities through tackling social, economic and digital exclusion faced by disadvantaged communities
• To increase economic activity and entrepreneurship within communities
• To create sustainable jobs in the social economy supported by existing and new social enterprises
• To promote active participation in the development of a knowledge driven economy.

Priority 4 Economic Infrastructure for a Competitive Economy (South Yorkshire only within Yorkshire & Humber)

• To support the Sheffield City Region Development Plan by developing the critical business/environmental and cultural infrastructure in the four key urban centres and contribute to the development of an accessible knowledge economy
• To ensure that South Yorkshire has the digital infrastructure to support business competitiveness and the growth of the knowledge economy

How will partners be engaged?

In order to deliver the programme strategy and ensure alignment with, and additionality to, nationally funded activity, 'Priority Prospectuses' are being developed. These will set out the objectives of the Programme and identify those activities that will best deliver those objectives.
The Priority Prospectuses will be iterative documents developed in consultation with partners. It is proposed that part of this consultation will involve convening ad hoc technical specialist groups that can contribute an independent, Priority specific technical knowledge to the development of the Prospectuses. The consultation process is not yet timetabled. Further details to follow.
The Priority Prospectuses will be agreed by the Programme Monitoring Committee (see Annex C) in April 2008. Thereafter, proposals that meet the criteria set out in the Prospectuses will be invited to submit an Outline Business Plan (see Annex B for an outline of the process). The project selection process will be aligned with Yorkshire Forward's Single Pot PMF process.

In the meantime, if those in Yorkshire & Humber wish to discuss your proposals, the Europe Team in Yorkshire Forward will be able to assist. Key contacts are:

Priority 1 Innovation Craig.Wallace@Yorkshire-Forward.com
Priority 2 Enterprise Graham.Lynch@Yorkshire-Forward.com
Priority 3 Inclusion Carl.Howard@Yorkshire-Forward.com
Priority 4 Infrastructure Gerri.Kostrzewa@Yorkshire-Forward.com

Further information can be obtained from:

Community and local Government website: http://www.erdf.communities.gov.uk/WhatIsERDF/117735

European Commission website: http://europa.eu/pol/reg/index_en.htm

In Yorkshire and Humber Region -
Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum Website: http://www.regionalforum.org.uk/european/other.php?id=127

Growing Regions, Growing Europe Fourth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion Public Consultation

A Joint Response from England's RDAs - January 2008

Every few years the European Commission carries out a report into Economic & Social Cohesion, which examines how well the Structural Funds are achieving their objectives.

The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) on behalf of the English RDAs submitted a joint response last week to the European Commission's Fourth report on Economic and Social Cohesion which will clearly feed into the forthcoming EU Budget review.

The seven page response details information on the specific role the RDAs have in the coordination of sustainable regional economic development and their new delegated authority status from DCLG in the management and delivery of the 2007-2013 ERDF Competitiveness (and Convergence in the South West) Programmes.

Key messages to the Commission include:

• RDAs support a more flexible, substantially simplified and coherent approach to the implementation of Structural Funds, in particular closer alignment with domestic policies at a regional level;
• The RDAs also support the Commission's move towards streamlining and simplifying the rules surrounding programming and management;
• RDAs are, and will continue to be well placed to bring together knowledge and experience of Regional Policy, from strategic and delivery perspectives.

The following web link takes you directly to all the contributions of the consultation on the future of EU Cohesion policy, also including a contribution made by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/4thcohesionforum/all_contrib_en.cfm?nmenu=3

CONTACTS for Yorkshire & Humber

Yorkshire Forward ERDF Enquiries Tel: 0845 224 5305 Email: erdfnews@yorkshire-forward.com

Yorkshire Forward Europe team (non-ERDF) Tel: 0113 394 9850

Yorkshireurope (Brussels) Tel: 00 32 2 735 3408

The European Strategy Team also provides policy and technical expertise to the region's European Strategy Board. This regional advisory group, chaired by a Yorkshire Forward Board member, is charged with maximising the benefits of our regional European involvement to support RES delivery.

Contacts for European Strategy team and Yorkshireurope:

Gill Browning - Senior European Strategy Manager
Email: gill.browning@yorkshire-forward.com Tel: 0113 394 9848 Alison Childs - European Strategy Manager
Email: alison.childs@yorkshire-forward.com Tel: 0113 394 9850 Zo Spink - European Strategy Manager
Email: zoe.spink@yorkshire-foward.com Tel: 0113 394 9693 Jane Hustwit - Director, Yorkshireurope
Email: jane.hustwit@yorkshire-forward.com Tel: 0113 394 9542 Benito Giordano - Head of Office, Yorkshireurope
Email: benito@yorkshire.be Tel: 00 322 735 3408 or visit www.yorkshireurope.be

If you are interested in the latest information about the 2007-13 Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF programme please email your contact details to Richard.Holmes@Yorkshire-Forward.com.

Information about the ERDF programme and Yorkshire Forward's other European activities can be found on its website at www.yorkshire-forward.com

ESF - National Programme

There are two main priorities:

1. extending employment opportunities
2. developing a skilled and adaptable workforce

Within these priorities, each region will develop its own strategy for addressing its distinctive regional, sub-regional and local needs.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and theSkills Funding Agency are managing the ESF.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is one of two successor organisations that will emerge from the closure of the Learning and Skills Council (England's largest Non-departmental public body or quango).

The Skills Funding Agency, established in law by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 will work alongside the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). The YPLA will be created as a nondepartmental public body, with a non-executive Board, sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.The Skills Funding Agency will be an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The Learning and Skills Council hands over its responsibilities from 1 April 2010.

Regional Skills Partnerships are now developing regional ESF frameworks for 2007-2013 on the basis of the proposal. The regional ESF frameworks will inform the delivery of the ESF programme so that it adds value to regional employment and skills priorities and complements other funding streams.

Useful websites:

National ESF office: www.esf.gov.uk

JobCentre Plus: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Partners/Europeansocialfund/index.html

Skills Funding Agency: http://www.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk

Co-operation

About 0.6 billion euro is available for Co-operation funding for cross-border and trans-national co-operation activities

The cross-border programmes in 2007-2013 will help to solve local problems.

The priorities are:

• Entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cross-border trade, tourism and culture
• Protection and joint management of the environment
• Better access to transport
• Information and communication networks
• Water, waste management and energy management systems
• Joint use of health, culture and education infrastructure
• Judicial and administrative co-operation

Useful website: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

Other types of European funding

Yorkshireurope - Helping You Seize the EU Opportunities European Regional Development Funds offer a major boost to the region's economy, yet opportunities for funding and EU engagement don't stop there. The EU is the world's biggest trading block, the main destination for exports from Yorkshire and The Humber. EU policy and legislation directly impacts on our region, shaping our environment and our businesses. Yorkshireurope is located in the heart of Brussels, working to ensure that our region maximizes the opportunities the EU has to offer.

Aside from ERDF, there are many other funding possibilities. These trans-national funds (or 'smart money') require partnerships with other EU regions. Covering the full socio-economic agenda, from environment, research and transport, to social inclusion, the Brussels team have experience, expertise and enthusiasm. They can advise you on how to get involved, successfully.

Yorkshireurope is also the region's EU intelligence agency. The team is skilled in navigating and explaining the legislative processes, as well as ensuring that Yorkshire and The Humber is positioned to influence and shape the agenda where we can.

If you'd like to know more or subscribe to our information services, visit www.yorkshireurope.be, email benito@yorkshire.be or call 00 32 2 735 3408

Multinational and cultural programmes

The information below on EU programmes is kindly provided from the official website of Europa Media: http://www.2007-2013.eu

Culture 2007

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 400 million

The general objective of Culture 2007 programme is to enhance the cultural area common to Europeans through the development of cultural cooperation between the creators, cultural players and cultural institutions of the countries taking part in the programme, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

Specifically, the programme aims to:

• Promote the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector
• Encourage the transnational circulation of works and cultural and artistic products
• Encourage intercultural dialogue

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_culture.php EUCLID provides European & international information, research and consultancy services to the cultural sector. Website: http://www.euclid.info/
Europe for Citizens Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 215 million

The programme Europe for Citizens aims to promote active European citizenship for the period 2007-2013 proposes to support active European citizenship and put citizens in the centre.

The main scope of the programme is to bridge the gap between citizens and the European Union through financial instruments that promote active European citizenship. It intends to encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different countries.

Main actions:

• Active Citizens for Europe
• Active civil society for Europe
• Together for Europe
• Active European Remembrance

Main objectives:

• Giving the citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing "an ever closer Europe"
• Strengthen the European identity, based on common values
• Developing a sense of ownership of the Union
• Enhancing mutual understanding and tolerance between European citizens, while contributing to intercultural dialogue

Supported actions:

• Activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town-twinning activities
• Structural support for organisations of civil society at European level
• Structural support for European public policy research organisation (think-tanks)
• Direct cooperation between civil society organisations from different Member States
• High-visibility events
• Studies, surveys and opinion polls
• Information and dissemination tools

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_europe_for_citizens.php

eContentplus programme

Period: 2005-2008 Budget: EUR 149 million

The eContentplus programme focuses on stimulating the development of digital content for services in areas of public interest - geographic information, cultural, scientific and educational content. It has an enabling role: it contributes to creating better conditions for accessing, using, reusing and exploiting digital material, based on which added-value products and services can be built across Europe.

eContentplus addresses specific market areas where development has been slow: geographic content (as a key constituent of public sector content), educational content, cultural, scientific and scholarly content.

The programme also supports EU-wide co-ordination of collections in libraries, museums and archives and the preservation of digital collections so as to ensure availability of cultural, scholarly and scientific assets for future use.

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_econtent.php

LIFE+ (Financial Instrument for the Environment)

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 1.911 billion

LIFE+ aims to contribute to the implementation, updating, and development of Community environmental policy and legislation, and support the implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Programme. LIFE+ replaces the LIFE, Urban, NGO and Forest Focus programmes managed by DG Environment.

LIFE+ comprises three components:

• LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity: focuses on the implementation of the EU directives on the conservation of habitats and of wild birds, as well as further strengthening the knowledge needed for developing, assessing, monitoring and evaluating EU nature and biodiversity policy and legislation;
• LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance: covers the other 6th EAP priorities besides nature and biodiversity, as well as strategic approaches to policy development, implementation and enforcement;
• LIFE+ Information and Communication: supports information dissemination and awareness raising activities, communication actions and campaigns, and organization of conferences and trainings.

Public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions may receive financing through LIFE+. Member States, and provided that supplementary appropriations are received, the following countries are eligible to receive funding through LIFE+:

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_life.php

Youth in Action

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 885 million

The main aim of the Youth in Action programme is to support experiences of European citizenship and solidarity among young people aged 13 to 30. It also aims to develop young's sense of initiative, creativeness and entrepreneurial spirit.

The specific objectives of the programme are:

• To promote young people's active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular
• To develop solidarity among young people
• To foster mutual understanding among people through youth
• To contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field
• To promote European cooperation in youth policies

The Youth in Action programme will support the following lines of actions to achieve its given objectives:

1. Youth for Europe: the main aim of this action is to promote exchanges of young people in order to increase their mobility and support youth initiatives, projects and activities in order to develop young people's citizenship and mutual understanding.
2. European Voluntary Service: the aim of this action is to "gear up young people's" participation in different forms of voluntary activities within and outside the European Union.
3. Youth of the World: the purpose of this action is to develop mutual understanding among people in a spirit of openness. It opens up the programme to projects with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe and to cooperation in the youth field with other third countries.
4. Youth Support Systems: aims to develop the quality of support structures for young people. This action helps to promote youth organisations active at the European level, in particular the European Youth Forum. It also supports the development of exchange, training and information schemes for young workers.
5. European Cooperation in the Youth Field: is aimed at promoting cooperation on youth policy, supporting a structured dialogue among young people and those responsible for youth policy, as well as building cooperation with international organisations.

Under the programme, natural persons may receive grants, and depending on the nature of the action, financial support may take the form of subsidies or scholarships.

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_youth.php

Europe for Citizens

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 215 million

The programme Europe for Citizens aims to promote active European citizenship for the period 2007-2013 proposes to support active European citizenship and put citizens in the centre.

The main scope of the programme is to bridge the gap between citizens and the European Union through financial instruments that promote active European citizenship. It intends to encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different countries.

Main actions:

• Active Citizens for Europe
• Active civil society for Europe
• Together for Europe
• Active European Remembrance

Main objectives:

• Giving the citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing "an ever closer Europe"
• Strengthen the European identity, based on common values
• Developing a sense of ownership of the Union
• Enhancing mutual understanding and tolerance between European citizens, while contributing to intercultural dialogue

Supported actions:

• Activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town-twinning activities
• Structural support for organisations of civil society at European level
• Structural support for European public policy research organisation (think-tanks)
• Direct cooperation between civil society organisations from different Member States
• High-visibility events
• Studies, surveys and opinion polls
• Information and dissemination tools

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_europe_for_citizens.php

Fundamental Rights and Justice

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 543 million

With each state having a seperate judicial system, the goal of the Fundamental Rights and Justice Framework programme is to ensure that the Member States are on the same page in terms of the rights and justice of the EU's citizens.

To ensure that Member States work together, this framework programme is further divided into 5 subprogrammes, namely:

• Fight against violence (Daphne)
• Drugs prevention and information
• Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
• Criminal Justice
• Civil Justice

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_fundamental_rights.php

Those subprogrammes that include a community element are outlined below.

Daphne

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 116,85 million

The Daphne program (a reference to Greek mythology) works under the Fundamental Rights and Justice Framework Programme and seeks to combat violence and thereby strengthen the area of freedom, justice and security in the EU. The program also seeks to protect EU citizens against violence, and thus improve the overall level of well being in the EU.

The aims of this program can be divided between actions taken on the societal and trans-national levels:

1.) To prevent violence against children, youth and women on the societal level, the program aims to:

• Assist and support NGOs and relevant organisations to play an active role in the protection against and prevention of violent acts
• Design materials for awareness-raising campaigns
• Disseminate information regarding the two Daphne programmes
• Contribute to the protection of those groups at risk of violence

2.) To create cooperation and action at the state level, the objectives are to:

• Establish multidisciplinary networks
• Support the exchange of knowledge, information and good practices
• Raise awareness of violence
• Support victims
• Study the trends and causes of violence to better understand and prevent it

Working both at the societal and national levels, the programme aims to establish cooperation with all groups involved in the drug field, including:

• Educational staff and social workers
• Local and national authorities, medical and judicial staff
• NGOs and trade unions
• Public and private organisations that work towards the prevention of drug use
• Coordinate action taken by the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children programme
• Transnational projects started by at least 3 Member States

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_daphne.php

Drugs Prevention and Information

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 21.35 million

The Drug Prevention and Information programs seeks to have the Member States pool their resources and work together to reduce the demand for and supply of drugs, ensuring that drugs from one state cannot travel into another state.

The Drugs Prevention and Information programme falls under the Fundamental Rights and Justice Framework programme.

While the overall goal of the programme is to establish a network of cooperation among states and the relevant authorities, it also aims to:

• Exchange information and good practices to create mutal understanding through activites such as trainings or staff exchanges
• Educate the public regarding drug use and the accompanying health and social problems
• Encourage the civil society the design and implementation of plans
• Assess and evaulate the programme to ensure proper implementation and the overall success of the actions taken
• The program requires that all groups affliated with the drug field are included, such as:
• Educational, medical or judicial staff, social workers and local or national authorities
• Educate vulnerable groups, such as the youth
• Involve organisations that provide help to those addicted

The objectives can be achieved in a number of ways, including carrying out research or studies to assess the problem and creating public events, campaigns, websites and materials to educate the targed audiences. Transnational projects undertaken in this field must be done presented by at least three Member States.

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_drugs_prevention.php

Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 93.8 million

Falling under the Fundamental Rights and Justice Framework Programme, the goal of the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship program is to ensure EU citizens are provided the rights they are afforded under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and allow for an open dialogue in regards to rights . The programme also aims to combat racism and thus ensures that EU citizens can live freely and openly without fear of persecution or danger.

Therefore, the programme draws heavily on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and seeks to educate the public to know and use their rights as EU citizens established in the Charter. The Union must also monitor Member States to ensure rights are no being violated.

However, the Union must also rely on organizations within the EU to promote the respect of rights and the rule of law. Therefore the Union also encourages the establishment of an interfaith and multicultural dialogue at the EU level to discuss peace and fundamental rights.

In order to educate EU citizens, third countries nationals in the EU and civil society organizations about their rights, the programme supports the following actions:

Organizing and conducting projects to assess the situation in the EU in regards to Fundamental Rights such as studies or research,

Developing educational campaigns, educational material and discussions among experts

Transnational projects by least three Member States

Projects done by non-governmental organisations that fulfill the objectives

Awarding of grants for projects associated with the permanent work programme of the Association of the Council of States and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European Union

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_fundamental_rights_citizenship.php

Civil Justice

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 106.5 million

Falling under the Fundamental Rights and Justice Framework programme , the Civil Justice programme aims to promote judicial cooperation in civil matters and the adjustment of Member States existing judicial systems to the EU system thereby improving the lives of EU citizens through access to justice. By requiring that the relevant authorities work together in the area of Civil Justice, the programme seeks to enhance the contact and the exchange of information and good practice between legal, judicial and administrative authorities.

The specific objectives of the programme, intended for legal practitioners, national authorities, EU citizens and public or private organisations, include:

• Improve access to justice, promote mutual recognition of judgments, lower differences in civil law and enhance the proper administration of justice
• Exchange information regarding each Member State's legal and judicial systems, with a mind towards mutual understanding Ensure the proper implementation of Union instruments
• Develop mutual confidence and quality of justice
• Support the training of judicial staff

The above objectives can be achieved in a number of ways:

• Undertake studies and research regarding the current situation and possible remedies
• Educate the public through campaigns, websites and distribution of information
• Transnational projects presented by at least three Member States
• Work done by non-governmental organisations or other entities

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_civil_justice.php

PROGRESS

Period: 2007-2013 Budget: EUR 743,25 million

The PROGRESS programme will complement the European Social Fund (ESF) in order to fight against poverty and unemployment, combat discrimination, promote gender equality; integrate disabled people into society and many others. It will replace 4 Community programmes from the previous financial period.

PROGRESS has five sections with the funds broken down and shared among them:

• Employment - 21 %
• Social Protection and Social Inclusion - 28 %
• Working Conditions - 8 %
• Anti discrimination and Diversity - 23 %
• Gender Equality - 8 %

The program will follow five main objectives to ensure positive a positive social situation for all:

Improve the knowledge and understanding of the prevailing social situation in the Member States through analysis, evaluation and monitoring of policies

Support the development of statistical tools, methods and common indicators

Implement Community law and policies objectives in the Member States

Promote networking, mutual learning, identification and dissemination of good practice at the EU level

Stimulate awareness among the stakeholders and the general public regarding the EU policies under each of the 5 sections

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_progress.php

Safer Internet plus

Period: 2005-2008 Budget: EUR 45 million

The Safer Internet plus programme aims to promote safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, particularly for children, and to fight against illegal content and content unwanted by the end-user, as part of a coherent approach by the European Union.

This programme is the successor of the Safer Internet Programme launched by the European Commission in 1999 as a response to the threat posed by illegal and harmful content on global networks.

The current Safer Internet plus Programme will build on the original Programme and bring a variety of stakeholders together, from law enforcement agencies and policy makers to mobile operators and child welfare NGOs.

The objectives of the programme focus on four lines of action:

• Fighting against illegal content
• Tackling unwanted and harmful content
• Promoting a safer environment
• Awareness-raising

Further information can be obtained from website: http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_saferinternet.php

There is a Handbook on EU Funds 2007-2013 produced by the EC. See website: http://soderkoping.org.ua/page13742.html

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