A recent data story highlights an EU investment of over €33.6 billion for the 2021-2027 programming period to support education, training and skills development. These funds will support activities that focus on vulnerable groups such as young people, people with disabilities and people from a migrant background. Together with national contributions to the budget of EU cohesion policy programmes, the total planned direct support for education and training increases to €48.2 billion for this period.  

Investing in people 

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) will receive over three quarters of this funding which will allow Member States to invest in people by establishing more inclusive and quality education and training systems, as well as to implement reforms.  

This funding will allow countries to transform their labour markets, enhance social inclusion, support small and medium-sized enterprises and expand research and innovation. Workers across the EU will be given the tools to adapt to the changing work environment, and businesses will receive support in fields such as energy efficiency, ICT solutions and responses to the effects of climate change.