European Trade Union Committee for Education

ETUCE has published a new Report “Information on EU Funding opportunities for teacher unions for education and training under the European Social Fund 2014-2020”. The purpose of the Report is to inform ETUCE member organisations of the funding opportunities for education and training from the European Social Fund (ESF) for 2014-2020 available in each country.

It can be downloaded from the publications section of the ETUCE website. Trade unions may contribute to projects under the ESF through the promotion of action in a number of sectors, including education. Trade unions, as social partners, are also welcome to apply for project funding and to participate in the implementation of projects and the use of funds at national, regional and local level.

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the EU’s main funding instrument to support the achievement of the targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. ESF will contribute €10 billion per year for that purpose.  Priorities for the strategy and for the use of those resources at national level are set, together, by the European Commission and EU member states. ‘Better education’ is one of the four main priorities. A wide range of projects designed for different targets can be financed at national, regional and local levels. There are projects targeting education systems, teachers and students.

In order to meet the challenges of Central and Eastern European countries, whether or not they are EU members, the ETUCE Secretariat has also published a brochure, “Project opportunities for Central and Eastern European countries”. It describes funding opportunities provided by European institutions and other sources. The funding, amongst other issues, seeks to contribute to quality education, professional development of teachers, gender equality, social inclusion, capacity building, youth employment, protection of human rights, the improvement of employment conditions and poverty reduction.

Read the report on ‘EU Funding opportunities for teacher unions for education and training under the European Social Fund 2014-2020’, here

Find the brochure on ‘Project opportunities for Central and Eastern European countries’, here.

Find out more on the European Social Fund from European Commission website.