Funding from the EU

Funds from the European Union are diverse and available for projects such as infrastructure or business development, education and training exchanges, research and development, culture and the environment. Some grants are for designated geographical areas and others are not location specific. Most funds are focussed on revenue rather than capital expenditure.

Below you will find a selection of some of the EU grants, it is by no means comprehensive, but should give you some idea of the breadth of funds available and where to find out more.

For a comprehensive overview of EU funding please go to the dedicated European Commission website.

Education and Vocational Training

Since 1995, more than a million people in the European Union have taken advantage of the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci or Youth for Europe programmes to study, train, do community work or further their personal development or in a country other than their own. The new generation of programmes will run until 2006. For vocational training, the new Europass Training document designed to certify periods of training abroad is now active in all EU countries. For further information on all education and training programmes please click here.

Employment

The European Social Fund (ESF) aims to improve employment opportunities by providing financial support for vocational training and job creation measures. The key priorities are:

• combating long-term unemployment and assisting young people into work
• helping those exposed to exclusion from the labour market
• promoting equal opportunities for men and women providing support for workers having to adapt to industrial change

The Commission does not directly fund ESF projects. National governments are responsible for identifying their priorities for funding and for selecting individual projects. For further information on UK applications click here.

Research & Technological Development

Research has a high priority within the European Union. This not only due to the need for business competitiveness but also for the health and wellbeing of citizens. Funds for research and development are provided by the Sixth Framework Programme. Click here to view.

In the UK, the Office of Science and Technology provides help and advice for potential applicants about how to prepare proposals. Innovation Relay Centres promote the EU's Research and Technological Development by offering specialist advice to the local industry in identification of partners through the Community research and Development Information Service (CORDIS).

Development Aid

The EU gives significant aid and assistance to the developing world. The European Development Fund takes the form of grants for development projects and economic assistance to promote rural development, combat food shortages and help with emergencies and natural disasters.

Business & Industry

Support is given to businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, in the EU in order to improve their access to markets, innovate and compete, click here for an overview of enterprise policy.

Twenty-one European Information Centres (EICs) throughout the UK provide the business community with up-to-date information and expert advice on EU related matters. European Investment Bank (EIB) is a non-profit making institution providing flexible medium and long-term loans for capital investment projects which meet the European Union's policy objectives.

Regional Development Aid

The EU has had a regional policy (click here to view) for thirty years in order to provide aid to lesser-developed regions and sectors of the economy in difficulty. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provides assistance in particular for investment to create or maintain jobs; infrastructure projects; education and training in development of local businesses; research and development and investment in environmental projects.

For more information on the use of structural funds in London, look on the Government Office for London website.

Health

Public Health Programmes are aimed at contributing towards a high level of health protection in the European Community. Four five-year action programmes are currently being implemented (cancer, drug dependency, AIDS and other communicable diseases, and health promotion).

Culture

The majority of the cultural budget of the European Union has been channelled into a programme called Culture 2000, which funds co-operation all in areas of the arts. However, there are many other funding strands and cultural aspects of other areas of EU activity. For full details click here.