The minister said: “Over the duration of the 2007-13 European Social Fund Programme the European Commission will provide Northern Ireland with some £114million of funding. The programme is a key part of the EU's Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs. It supports the EU's goal of increasing employment by giving unemployed people the training and support they need to enter jobs and also increasing the level of skills in the existing workforce. By focusing on those most in need of help, it contributes to policies to reduce inequality, build a fairer society and develop a more competitive workforce.”
The minister also highlighted the contribution made by the EQUAL Community Initiative which has tested new ways of overcoming different forms of discrimination and inequality experienced by those both in work and those seeking employment. EQUAL operated between 2000-06 and was instrumental in the development of the new ESF Programme.
Emphasising the key themes of EQUAL, Sir Reg said: “The areas of transnationality, innovation, mainstreaming and empowerment are key principles of the new NIESF Programme. It is this ability to pilot new processes and share information across the UK and Europe that helps us develop better and more effective policies and projects.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The new NIESF Programme 2007-13 will bring £114m from Europe into Northern Ireland to fund two main priorities:
- Helping people into sustainable employment
- Improving workforce skills
2. Seventy-six projects have been approved under the first call for Priority 1 of this Programme and the majority are now up and running helping those disadvantaged in the labour market to gain the skills and knowledge to move them into sustainable employment.
3. The EQUAL Community Initiative was funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and operated between 2000-06 with EU funding for Northern Ireland of €12million. The Initiative was guided by a set of six principles which underpin the activity within EQUAL at Partnership, national and EU levels. These principles are: Partnership, Thematic Approach, Innovation, Transnational Working, Dissemination, and Mainstreaming.
4. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872. Outside office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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