The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding opportunities took centre stage at high-level panel discussions on 10th September 2022 at the Thessaloniki International Fair, which focused this year on regional development. The event offered the occasion for citizens and stakeholders to find out more and discuss participation in the new ESF+ ‘Human Resources and Social Cohesion’ (HSRC) Programme.
Worth EUR 3.3 billion, the ESF+ programme was one of the first to be adopted under the Commission Partnership Agreement with Greece which sets the priorities for cohesion investments in the country between 2021 and 2027. The social cohesion programme promotes employment, education and social inclusion and contributes to fair, green and digital transitions by up- and re-skilling people. It will support the implementation of important national initiatives such as the new active labour market policies delivery model, the primary healthcare reform, and reforms in vocational education and training (VET), inclusive education and adult learning. ‘Human Resources and Social Cohesion’ will also provide food aid and material assistance, combined with measures for social and labour market inclusion.
The new programme was introduced by Patrick Paquet, Head of Unit for Greece and Cyprus at the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), and Andriana Manoli, Head of the Managing Authority of the 2021-2027 ESF+ Social Cohesion Programme. They discussed with citizens and agency representatives how to deliver aid to some of Greece’s most vulnerable groups of society, such as children of vulnerable families, disabled people and Roma.
Skills for Tomorrow
A dialogue on ‘Skills for Tomorrow’ enabled young people from VET centres, high schools, institutes and universities in Thessaloniki to discuss the importance of the right skillset for achieving prosperity in the economy and the society with high-level representatives of the European Commission and of the two EU agencies based in Greece – the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDFOP) and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). It also involved the Governor of the Greek Public Employment Services (D.Y.P.A) Mr Spyridon Protopsaltis and addressed the challenges facing both Greek society and its labour market. Barbara Kauffmann, Director for 'Employment and Social Governance, Analysis' at DG EMPL, elaborated on the need for a future-oriented technical and vocational education, the issue of skills mismatch and relevance of education and training for the labour market.
To tackle these challenges, the ‘Human Resources and Social Cohesion’ Programme has a special focus on youth employment – with opportunities for young people for training, certification and work experience in growing sectors, including the green and blue economy.
