The so-called Structural Funds are of considerable importance among the sources of financing of European origin - programmes related to agriculture, regional policy, employment and social matters - including:
ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), governed by Reg. EC 1083/2006, as a set of economic resources specifically intended for the achievement of the objectives of convergence, regional competitiveness, employment and territorial cooperation of the European Community. In particular, the operational objectives of the Fund include:
- the creation and maintenance of jobs;
- innovation and the knowledge economy;
- respecting and protecting the environment and risk prevention;
- access to transport and telecommunications services;
- sustainable territorial development by means of encouraging entrepreneurship.
ESF (European Social Fund), governed by Reg. EC 1081/2006, as a set of economic resources specifically intended for the achievement of the objectives of convergence, regional competitiveness and employment. These are in particular initiatives aimed at protecting and developing the world of work and its links with society (e.g. measures to reintegrate the unemployed and disadvantaged into the labour market, organisation of training programmes and recruitment support, etc.).
Cohesion Fund, governed by Reg. EC 1084/2006, as a set of economic resources intended to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the perspective of promoting sustainable development. The main areas of intervention are transport and environmental protection, renewable energies, etc.
Mention should also be made of the EFF (European Fisheries Fund), aimed at adapting and modernising the sector and the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), aimed at financing agricultural and agri-food development and modernisation of the sector.