1. The Structural Funds in the EU are intended to help increase economic and social cohesion between Member States and constitute an important instrument for reducing regional imbalances and differences in economic development. Swedish ESF Council

2. The European Social Fund aims to achieve a high level of employment, equality between men and women, sustainable development and economic and social cohesion Swedish ESF Council

3. Objective 1 Aims to promote the development and structural adjustment of regions which development is lagging behind. Objective 2 To support the economic and social conversion of regions facing structural difficulties (industrial, rural and urban areas and areas dependent on fisheries). Objective 3 To support the adaption and modernisation of policies and systems of education, professional training and employment. Community initiative EQUAL A laboratory to find new solutions to create a more inclusive working life without exclusion or discrimination. Swedish ESF Council

4. EU 2004–2006 Areas for objective 1 and 2

5. EU total of €195 billion in the structural funds 2000–2006 Swedish ESF Council Objective 1 Objective 3 Objective 2 Community initiative

6. …and € 2,19 billion goes to Sweden. Swedish ESF Council Community Initiative 13 % Objective 2 16% Objective 3 33% Other 5% Objective 1 33%

7. The Swedish ESF Council......is the government authority responsible for the implementation of the Objective 3 and EQUAL programmes. This work is conducted in close co-operation with the organisations of the labour market and other interest groups. Swedish ESF Council

8. Organisation To carry out this work, partnerships have been created, at both the national level as well as the regional level which actively promote and monitor the programs. The council consists of a central office and regional offices in the administrative provinces of Sweden. Swedish ESF Council

9. Speed up! In Sweden Objective 3 aims to adapt and modernise policies and systems of education, training and employment. A main part of the program stimulate competence development activities in companies, public sector and organisations. Swedish ESF Council

10. Comprises all The program comprises the whole labour market and is intended to create additional empowerment to employed and unemployed individuals as well as to single entrepreneurs. 18% of the Swedish labourforce have participated so far. The basis is the individual and her active participation. Swedish ESF Council

11. 4 priorities – 4 horizontal themes Swedish ESF Council Competence development for employees Increased employability and entre- prenurship Integration, multiplicity and equal opportunities Local development Equal opportunities Development of the information technologies Healthy development of the conditions of the working life Local and regional strength

12. EQUAL – Contribute with new solutions how to create a more inclusive working life without discrimination Equal is the community initiative providing support for the development of new methods to counteract discrimination and exclusion in the working life. The Equal programme in Sweden accounts for a totalt of € 172,4 million of which the Social Fund contributes around € 86.2 million. Swedish ESF Council

13. The organisation of the Swedish ESF Council

14. Swedish ESF Council The implementation organisation of Objective 3 and EQUAL