ESF Plus direct Employment and Social Innovation programme (EaSI)
Starting in 2021, the EU Employment and Social Innovation programme ("EaSI") will become an independent component of the European Social Fund Plus ("ESF Plus direct Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)") and be managed by the European Commission.
The employment and social innovation component pursues the same policy objectives as that of the ESF Plus and has the following policy priorities:
- Employment and qualifications
- Labor markets and labor mobility
- Social protection and social inclusion
- Working conditions
From 2021 to 2027, roughly 675 million EUR (in 2018 prices) will be available at Union level. These funds can be used to provide support in the following fields of employment and social affairs:
- Evidence-based studies,
- Networking activities (exchange of information, mutual learning),
- Social experimentation,
- Geographical mobility,
- Microfinancing (of micro-enterprises) and
- Institutional capacity building (social investment, social infrastructure, transnational cooperation and support services for the implementation of international social and labour standards)
Eligible measures include analytical activities, the implementation of policy measures, capacity building, communication and dissemination Details on this can be found under article 26 of the ESF Plus Regulation
The implementation of EaSI in the framework of ESF Plus takes into account the aspects of gender equality, inclusion of the gender perspective and the fight against all forms of discrimination, as well as accessibility for people with disabilities.
Funding may be granted to legal entities established in a Member State, legal entities established in an EU accession country or, under certain conditions, in a third country. Funding may also be granted to legal entities established under Union law and to international organisations.
The EaSI support applies with retroactive effect from 1 January 2021 with the entry into force of the ESF Plus Regulation on 1 July 2021 and will expire on 31 December 2027.
In implementing the programme, the European Commission is supported by a working group composed of representatives from the Member States. The German representatives can be contacted via the e-mail address indicated below.
The brochure provides a clear overview of the objectives and functioning of the EaSI programme.
Calls for tender
Programme measures are implemented via calls for tenders issued by the European Commission on a regular basis. The calls for tender are published on the website of the European Commission. The European Commission’s calls to submit proposals describe in detail the objective of the measure, the tender procedure and the conditions to be met by applicants. Applicants must submit their project proposals and application documents directly to the European Commission, which uses a special procedure to decide on the award.
Current Calls:
- Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment - Deadline: September 30, 2024
EaSI work programme
The European Commission sets out its activities under the EaSI programme in annual work programmes. The work programmes contain general explanations of the political priorities, individual measures and the budget of the year in question.
Contact in Germany
National contact point for the EaSI programme
The national contact point provides information on the EaSI programme and supports applicants. It can be reached via the new address in the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Wilhelmstraße 49
10117 Berlin
E-mail: info-easi@bmas.bund.de
If you have questions on specific issues, please contact:
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Social protection and social inclusion contact point
Division GA 2: Poverty and wealth issues, social services and care
E-mail: GA2@bmas.bund.de
Working conditions contact point
Division IIIb2: Basic Issues of Occupational Safety and Health, Technical Supervision of the BAuA
E-mail: IIIb2@bmas.bund.de
EURES contact point
Division IIb2: Vocational Guidance and Placement, Temporary Agency Work
E-mail: IIb2@bmas.bund.de
Microfinance contact point
Division EF1: European Social Fund Managing Authority
E-mail: VIGruEF1@bmas.bund.de
Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Anti-discrimination contact point:
Division EU
E-mail: eu@bmfsfj.bund.de
Gender equality contact point:
Division 404
E-mail: 404@bmfsfj.bund.de
