PROGRESS

Period: 2007-2013

Budget: EUR 743,25 million

The PROGRESS programme will complement the European Social Fund (ESF) in order to fight against poverty and unemployment, combat discrimination, promote gender equality; integrate disabled people into society and many others. It will replace 4 Community programmes from the previous financial period.

PROGRESS has five sections with the funds broken down and shared among them:

• Employment – 21 %

• Social Protection and Social Inclusion – 28 %

• Working Conditions – 8 %

• Anti discrimination and Diversity – 23 %

• Gender Equality – 8 %

The program will follow five main objectives to ensure positive a positive social situation for all:

• Improve the knowledge and understanding of the prevailing social situation in the Member States through analysis, evaluation and monitoring of policies

• Support the development of statistical tools, methods and common indicators

• Implement Community law and policies objectives in the Member States

• Promote networking, mutual learning, identification and dissemination of good practice at the EU level

• Stimulate awareness among the stakeholders and the general public regarding the EU policies under each of the 5 sections

PROGRESS will be open for EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries, the associated candidate countries and the countries of the western Balkan participating in the stabilisation and association process.

As the program aims to contribute to the networking among specialised bodies at the EU level through the formation of working groups, funding trainings and seminars, staff exchanges between national administrations and cooperation with international institutions, the beneficiaries can be identified as:

• Public employment services

• Local and regional authorities

• Specialized bodies formed under EU legislation

• Social partners

• Non-governmental organizations organized at the EU level

• Universities and research institutes

• Experts in evaluation

• National statistical offices

• Media