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Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013

Type Regulation

Publication 2021-06-30

Last updated 2025-09-20

State In force

Department Council of the European Union, European Parliament

Source EUR-Lex

articles 47

Reform history JSON API

(d) communication and dissemination activities, in particular:
(i) mutual learning through exchange of good practices, innovative approaches, results of analytical activities, peer reviews, and benchmarking;
(ii) guides, reports, informative material and media coverage of initiatives related to the policy areas set out in Article 4(1);
(iii) information systems disseminating evidence related to the policy areas set out in Article 4(1);
(iv) events of the Presidency of the Council and conferences, seminars and awareness-raising activities.

Article 27

Eligible entities

Subject to the criteria set out in Article 197 of the Financial Regulation, the following entities shall be eligible:

(a) legal entities established in any of the following countries or territories:
(i) a Member State or an overseas country or territory linked to it;
(ii) a third country which is associated to the EaSI strand pursuant to Article 29;
(iii) a third country listed in the work programme, subject to conditions specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article;

(b) any legal entity established under Union law or any international organisation.

Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the EaSI strand pursuant to Article 29 shall be exceptionally eligible to participate where necessary for the achievement of the objectives of a given action.

Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the EaSI strand pursuant to Article 29 shall, in principle, bear the cost of their participation.

Article 28

Horizontal principles

The Commission shall ensure that gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the integration of gender perspective are taken into account and promoted throughout the preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the operations supported from the EaSI strand.

The Commission shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination based on gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during the preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the operations supported from the EaSI strand. In particular, accessibility for persons with disabilities shall be taken into account throughout the preparation and implementation of the EaSI strand.

Article 29

Participation of third countries

The EaSI strand shall be open to the participation of the following third countries by means of an agreement with the Union:

(a) members of the European Free Trade Association which are members of the European Economic Area, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Agreement on the European Economic Area;

(b) acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements and Association Council decisions or similar agreements and in accordance with the specific conditions laid down in agreements between the Union and those countries;

(c) other third countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in a specific agreement covering the participation of the third country in the EaSI strand, provided that the agreement:
(i) ensures a fair balance as regards the contributions and benefits of the third country participating in the Union programmes;
(ii) lays down the conditions of participation in the programmes, including the calculation of financial contributions to individual programmes or strands of programmes, and their administrative costs;
(iii) does not confer to the third country a decisional power on the EaSI strand;
(iv) guarantees the rights of the Union to ensure sound financial management and to protect its financial interests.

The contributions referred to in this Article, first paragraph, point (c)(ii), shall constitute assigned revenues in accordance with Article 21(5) of the Financial Regulation.

CHAPTER III General provisions

Article 30

Forms of Union funding and methods of implementation

The EaSI strand may provide funding in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation for financial contributions, in particular grants, prizes, procurement and voluntary payments to international organisations of which the Union is a member or in whose work it participates.

The EaSI strand shall be implemented directly as provided for in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (a), of the Financial Regulation or indirectly with bodies referred to in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (c), of that Regulation.

When awarding grants, the evaluation committee referred to in Article 150 of the Financial Regulation may be composed of external experts.

Blending operations under the EaSI strand shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and Title X of the Financial Regulation.

Article 31

Work programme

The EaSI strand shall be implemented on the basis of work programmes referred to in Article 110 of Financial Regulation. The content of those work programmes shall be established in line with the operational objectives set out in Article 25 of this Regulation and with the eligible actions set out in Article 26 of this Regulation. Work programmes shall set out, where applicable, the overall amount reserved for blending operations.

The Commission shall gather expertise on the preparation of the work programmes by consulting the working group referred to in Article 39(8).

The Commission shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between ESF+ and other relevant Union instruments as well as between the ESF+ strands.

Article 32

Monitoring and reporting

Indicators to report on the progress of the EaSI strand towards the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4(1) and the operational objectives set out in Article 25 are set out in Annex IV.

The performance reporting system shall ensure that data for monitoring the implementation and results of the EaSI strand are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner.

To that end, proportionate reporting requirements shall be imposed on recipients of Union funds and, where relevant, Member States.

Article 33

Protection of the financial interests of the Union

Where a third country participates in the EaSI strand by means of a decision adopted pursuant to an international agreement, or on the basis of any other legal instrument, the third country shall grant the necessary rights and access required for the authorising officer responsible, OLAF and the Court of Auditors to comprehensively exercise their respective competences. In the case of OLAF, such rights shall include the right to carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, as provided for in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013.

Article 34

Evaluation

Evaluations shall be carried out in a timely manner to feed into the decision-making process.

By 31 December 2024, the Commission shall carry out a mid-term evaluation of the EaSI strand, on the basis of sufficient information available about its implementation.

The Commission shall assess the performance of the programme pursuant to Article 34 of the Financial Regulation, and in particular its effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and Union added value, including vis-à-vis the horizontal principles referred to in Article 28 of this Regulation, and measure, on a qualitative and quantitative basis, progress made in meeting the objectives of the EaSI strand.

The mid-term evaluation shall be based on the information generated by the monitoring arrangements and indicators established pursuant to Article 32, with a view to making any adjustments needed to the policy and funding priorities.

By 31 December 2031, at the end of the implementation period a final evaluation of the EaSI strand shall be carried out by the Commission.

The Commission shall submit the conclusions of the mid-term and final evaluations accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Article 35

Audits

Audits on the use of the Union contribution carried out by persons or entities, including by other than those mandated by the Union institutions or bodies, shall form the basis of the overall assurance pursuant to Article 127 of the Financial Regulation.

Article 36

Information, communication and publicity

The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin of those funds and ensure the visibility of the Union funding, in particular when promoting the actions and their results, by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.

The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the EaSI strand, to actions taken pursuant to the EaSI strand and to the results obtained.

Financial resources allocated to the EaSI strand shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as those priorities are related to the objectives referred to in Article 3(1) and (2), Article 4(1) and Article 25.

PART IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 37

Exercise of the delegation

The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 17(7) and Article 23(5) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from 1 July 2021.

The delegation of power referred to in Article 17(7) and Article 23(5) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 17(7) or Article 23(5) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 38

Committee procedure for the ESF+ strand under shared management

The Commission shall be assisted by the committee referred to in Article 115(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 39

Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU

The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU (the ‘ESF+ Committee’).

Each Member State shall appoint one government representative, one representative of the workers’ organisations, one representative of the employers’ organisations and one alternate for each member for a maximum period of seven years. In the absence of a member, the alternate shall be automatically entitled to take part in the proceedings.

The ESF+ Committee shall include one representative from each of the organisations representing workers’ organisations and employers’ organisations at Union level.

The ESF+ Committee, including its working groups referred to in paragraph 7, may invite non-voting representatives of stakeholders to attend its meetings. This may include representatives of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund as well as relevant civil society organisations.

The ESF+ Committee shall be consulted on the planned use of technical assistance referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 in the case of support from the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as on other issues having an impact on the implementation of strategies at Union level relevant to the ESF+.

The ESF+ Committee may deliver opinions on:

(a) questions related to the ESF+ contribution to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including country-specific recommendations and European Semester-related priorities, such as national reform programmes;

(b) issues concerning Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 relevant for the ESF+;

The opinions of the ESF+ Committee shall be adopted by an absolute majority of the votes validly cast, and shall be communicated to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, for information. The Commission shall inform the ESF+ Committee in writing of the manner in which it has taken account of its opinions.

The ESF+ Committee shall set up working groups for each ESF+ strand.

The Commission shall consult the working group dealing with the EaSI strand on the work programme. It shall inform that working group of the manner in which it has taken account of the results of that consultation. That working group shall ensure that a consultation of the work programme with stakeholders, including with representatives of civil society, takes place.

Article 40

Transitional provisions for the ESF+ strand under shared management

Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013, Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 or any act adopted under those Regulations shall continue to apply to programmes and operations supported under those Regulations during the 2014 to 2020 programming period.

Article 41

Transitional provisions for the EaSI strand

Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2021. Any references to Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013 shall be construed as references to this Regulation.

The financial envelope for the implementation of the EaSI strand may also cover technical and administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the ESF+ and the measures adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013.

If necessary, appropriations may be entered in the Union budget beyond 2027 to cover the expenses provided for in Article 5(4), to enable the management of actions not completed by 31 December 2027.

Repayments from financial instruments established by Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013 shall be invested in the financial instruments of the social investment and skills policy window referred to in Article 8(1), point (d), of Regulation (EU) 2021/523.

In accordance with Article 193(2), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Financial Regulation, in duly justified cases specified in the financing decision and for a limited period, activities supported under this Regulation and the underlying costs may be considered eligible as of 1 January 2021, even if they were implemented and incurred before the grant application was submitted.

Article 42

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2021 with regard to the EaSI strand.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX I

COMMON INDICATORS FOR GENERAL SUPPORT FROM THE ESF+ STRAND UNDER SHARED MANAGEMENT

Personal data are to be broken down by gender (women, men, non-binary persons ([^E0004])).

If certain results are not possible, data for those results do not have to be collected or reported.

Where appropriate, common output indicators can be reported based on the target group of the operation.

1. Common output indicators related to operations targeting people
1.1. Common output indicators for participants are:
— unemployed, including long-term unemployed ([^E0005]),
— long-term unemployed (*1) ,
— inactive (*1) ,
— employed, including self-employed (*1) ,
— number of children below 18 years of age (*1) ,
— young people between 18 and 29 years of age (*1) ,
— number of participants of 55 years of age and above (*1) ,
— with lower secondary education or less (ISCED 0-2) (*1) ,
— with upper secondary (ISCED 3) or post-secondary education (ISCED 4) (*1) ,
— with tertiary education (ISCED 5 to 8) (*1) ,
— total number of participants ([^E0006]). Indicators listed under this point do not apply to ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l), except the following indicators: ‘number of children below 18 years of age’, ‘young people between 18 and 29 years of age’, ‘number of participants of 55 years of age and above’ and ‘total number of participants’. Where data are collected from registers or equivalent sources, Member States may use national definitions.
1.2. Other common output indicators for participants are:
— participants with disabilities ([^E0007]),
— third-country nationals (*1) ,
— participants with a foreign background (*1) ,
— minorities (including marginalised communities, such as Roma people) (*2) ,
— homeless or affected by housing exclusion (*1) ,
— participants from rural areas (*1) ([^E0008]). Data collection is necessary only where applicable and relevant. Values of the indicators listed under point 1.2 can be determined based on informed estimates provided by the beneficiary. For indicators listed under point 1.2 Member States may apply national definitions, except for the following indicators: ‘third-country nationals’ and ‘participants from rural areas’.

1. Common output indicators for entities Common output indicators for entities are:
— number of supported public administrations or public services at national, regional or local level,
— number of supported micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (including cooperative enterprises and social enterprises). Where data are collected from registers or equivalent sources, Member States may use national definitions.

1. The common immediate result indicators for participants The common immediate result indicators for participants are:
— participants engaged in job searching upon leaving (*1) ,
— participants in education or training upon leaving (*1) ,
— participants gaining a qualification upon leaving (*1) ,
— participants in employment, including self-employment, upon leaving (*1) . Indicators listed under this point do not apply to ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l). Where data are collected from registers or equivalent sources, Member States may use national definitions.

1. Common longer-term result indicators for participants Common longer-term result indicators for participants are:
— participants in employment, including self-employment, six months after leaving (*1) ,
— participants with an improved labour market situation six months after leaving (*1) . Indicators listed under this point do not apply to ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l). Where data are collected from registers or equivalent sources, Member States may use national definitions. Common longer-term result indicators for participants shall be reported by 31 January 2026 in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 and in the final performance report referred to in Article 43 of that Regulation. As a minimum requirement, common longer-term indicators for participants shall be based on a representative sample of participants within the specific objectives set out in Article 4(1), points (a) to (k). Internal validity of the sample is to be ensured in such a way that the data can be generalised at the level of the specific objective.

ANNEX II

COMMON INDICATORS FOR THE ESF+ ACTIONS TARGETING SOCIAL INCLUSION OF THE MOST DEPRIVED PERSONS WITHIN THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE SET OUT IN ARTICLE 4(1), POINT (L), IN LINE WITH THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 7(5)

Personal data are to be broken down by gender (women, men, non-binary persons ([^E0009])).

1. Common output indicators related to operations targeting people
1.1. Common output indicators for participants are:
— total number of participants,
— number of children below 18 years of age ([^E0010]),
— number of young people between 18 and 29 years of age (*3) ,
— number of participants of 65 years of age and above (*3) . Values of the indicators listed under point 1.1 can be determined based on informed estimates provided by the beneficiary.
1.2. Other common output indicators are:
— participants with disabilities ([^E0011]),
— third-country nationals (*3) ,
— number of participants with a foreign background (*3) , minorities (including marginalised communities, such as Roma people) (*4) ,
— homeless or affected by housing exclusion (*3) . Data collection is necessary only where applicable and relevant. Values of the indicators listed under point 1.2 can be determined based on informed estimates provided by the beneficiary.

ANNEX III

COMMON INDICATORS FOR ESF+ SUPPORT FOR ADDRESSING MATERIAL DEPRIVATION

1. Output indicators
1.1. Total monetary value of distributed food and goods:
1.1.1. total value of the food support ([^E0012]);
1.1.1.1. total monetary value of food for the homeless;
1.1.1.2. total monetary value of food for other target groups;
1.1.2. total value of goods distributed ([^E0013]);
1.1.2.1. total monetary value of goods for children;
1.1.2.2. total monetary value of goods for the homeless;
1.1.2.3. total monetary value of goods for other target groups.
1.2. Total quantity of food support distributed (in tonnes) ([^E0014]):
1.2.1. share of food for which only transport, distribution and storage were paid for by the programme (in %);
1.2.2. proportion of the ESF+ co-financed food in the total volume of food distributed by the beneficiaries (in %). Values of the indicators listed under points 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 shall be determined based on informed estimates provided by the beneficiary.

1. Common result indicators
2.1. Number of the end recipients receiving food support
— number of children below 18 years of age,
— number of young people between 18 and 29 years of age,
— number of women,
— number of end recipients of 65 years of age and above,
— number of end recipients with disabilities ([^E0015]),
— number of third-country nationals (*5) ,
— number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (including marginalised communities such as Roma people) (*5) ,
— number of homeless end recipients or end-recipients affected by housing exclusion (*5) .
2.2. Number of the end recipients receiving material support
— number of children below 18 years of age,
— number of young people between 18 and 29 years of age,
— number of women,
— number of end recipients of 65 years of age and above,
— number of end recipients with disabilities (*5) ,
— number of third-country nationals (*5) ,
— number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (including marginalised communities, such as Roma people) (*5) ,
— number of homeless end recipients or end-recipients affected by housing exclusion (*5) .
2.3. Number of the end recipients benefiting from vouchers or cards
— number of children below 18 years of age,
— number of young people between 18 and 29 years of age,
— number of end recipients of 65 years of age and above,
— number of women,
— number of end recipients with disabilities (*5) ,
— number of third-country nationals (*5) ,
— number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (including marginalised communities, such as Roma people) (*5) ,
— number of homeless end recipients or end recipients affected by housing exclusion (*5) . Values of the indicators listed under point 2 shall be determined based on informed estimates provided by the beneficiary.

ANNEX IV

INDICATORS FOR THE EaSI STRAND

Indicators for the EaSI strand

— number of analytical activities,

— number of information sharing and mutual learning activities,

— number of social experimentation,

— number of capacity building and networking activities,

— number of job placements under targeted mobility schemes.

Data for the indicator ‘number of job placements under targeted mobility schemes’ shall be collected only every two years.

[^E0001]: Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 February 2024 establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and amending Directive 2003/87/EC and Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241 (OJ L, 2024/795, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/795/oj).

[^E0002]: Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/2012/oj).

[^E0003]: Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).

[^E0004]: According to national law.

[^E0005]: Data reported are personal data according to Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

[^E0006]: This indicator shall be calculated automatically on the basis of the common output indicators relating to employment status, except for ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l), in which case the total number of participants is to be reported.

[^E0007]: Data reported comprise a special category of personal data as referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

[^E0008]: This indicator does not apply to ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l).

[^E0009]: According to national law.

[^E0010]: Data reported are personal data according to Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

[^E0011]: Data reported comprise a special category of personal data as referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

[^E0012]: These indicators do not apply to food assistance provided indirectly through vouchers or cards.

[^E0013]: These indicators do not apply to goods provided indirectly through vouchers or cards.

[^E0014]: These indicators do not apply to food assistance provided indirectly through vouchers or cards.

[^E0015]: National definitions may be used.

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