The European Commission has adopted on Tuesday the Danish national Operational Program for the implementation of the European Social Fund (ESF) in the period 2014-2020.

This program outlines the priorities and objectives to spend 400 million euros (535 million U.S. dollars), contributing to strengthening economic growth in all Danish regions and to achieving the Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The ESF is Europe’s main instrument for supporting jobs, helping people get better jobs and ensuring fairer job opportunities for all EU citizens.

Every year the ESF assists over 15 million people by helping them to upgrade their skills, facilitating their integration into the labor market, combating social exclusion and poverty and enhancing the efficiency of public administrations.

In 2014-2020, for the first time in the history of EU Cohesion Policy, a minimum budget representing at least 23.1 percent (at EU level) within Cohesion Policy funding has been allocated to the ESF.