Brussels, 18/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - As expected, on 16 January, the European Commission adopted its communication on the "support of the European Social Fund (ESF) for the European Employment Strategy" (see EUROPE of 15/16 January, p.13). Investment into human resources being recognised as one of the main driving forces for growth, the Commission places emphasis on the role of the Social Fund which, over the next six years, will invest some 60 billion euro in modernising and reforming the labour market.
"The ESF is one of the structural funds that has the best success rate in terms of carrying out projects", stressed Karl-Johann Lonnroth, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission's Employment DG, when presenting the Communication to the press, and noting that the ESF was the only structural fund focused on the individual, which is the key element for a European employment strategy. He then recalled that, in negotiations with Member states, the Commission had pointed to four lines of action: "inclusion in the labour market, equal opportunities, the setting up of new companies (mainly SMEs) and lifelong learning".
Welcoming the communication and the close to conclusion of negotiations between the Commission and Member states on the ESF, Anna Diamantopoulou considered that the communication clearly demonstrated that measures put in place by the ESF were a solid base to support the employment strategy and the undertakings made at the Lisbon Summit.