Welcome to the website for the European Social Fund (ESF) in Baden-Württemberg. I am delighted that you are interested in finding out more about this important EU labour market and social policy funding instrument.
The ESF is a resounding success: ESF spending has been dedicated to improving employment prospects in Europe for nearly a half a century now. This website draws on the experience we have acquired in previous programming periods to provide an introduction to the European Social Fund itself and to the strategies and innovations for the 2007-2013 programming period.
Under its motto »Creating opportunities« the ESF in Baden-Württemberg helps people and firms to shape up and to master the continually changing challenges on the labour market of the future. One objective is to maintain our competitiveness both in the European Union and on global markets. At the same time we must also provide people who are particularly disadvantaged with specific assistance which will help them to find their way into employment.
Dr. Monika Stolz MP
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs,
Families and Senior Citizens