07/03/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 7 March, the European Commission announced the allocation of €66.5 million to the European Social Fund (ESF) operational programmes in Luxembourg and Sweden as part of the React-EU initiative to support local and regional authorities in dealing with the consequences of the pandemic. As of 28 February, €40.4 billion of the approximately €50 billion had been allocated, according to European Commission figures. The institution would reportedly like to use React-EU to help regions facing a large influx of refugees as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (see EUROPE 12903/5). An announcement is expected on Tuesday 8 March. (PH)