Employ

The main aim of EMPLOY is to develop innovative, multimedia and integrated Tools and Services designed to support the Management of the European Structural Funds (EUSF) process, involving local, regional, national and EU administrations, as well as Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and citizens as the final recipients.

The EUSF is the main mechanism to provide regional aid to the member states of the EU with the goal of achieving economic and social cohesion in the Union. Under specific objectives (1, 2, and 3) there are four financing tools: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for infrastructure and productive investments, the European Social Fund (ESF) for professional training, the EAGGF-G (the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund) for agricultural and rural development, and the FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) for fishing fleets, fish farming and coastal areas.

A more efficient/effective EUSF process is considered essential to create new job opportunities and reduce unemployment. As a consequence, the entire process will be revised (from proposal/funding, to funds provision and monitoring of funds usage) and all relevant actors will be included. The main objectives of the project are to produce a cost reduction in the targeted public services ranging from 30 to 50 %, a productivity improvement of 50 % and above all, the creation of at least 50,000 new job opportunities, within the project lifetime.

The project involves Treasury and Finance Ministries and Regional Governments (all of which are EUSF Objective 1, i.e., regions whose development is lagging behind, and therefore their budgets are highly dependent upon structural funds), from the following countries:

• Italy
• Ireland
• Greece
• Cyprus (facing the Structural Funds process by consequences of the EU enlargement)