EU funding instruments for upskilling and reskilling

Funding instruments are based on Commission proposals (subject to changes).

Accessible through financial intermediaries

European programme/fund	Application process	Scope regarding skills	Expected volume for 2021-2027 (total budget of programme/fund)
InvestEU	Through the European Investment Bank Group, implementing partners and financial institutions located in Member States Repayable finance including debt and equity finance. Starting in 2021	The Social investment and skills window (SISW) will cover both the demand and supply side of skills. Support will target students and learners, SMEs and mid-caps as well as providers of training.	InvestEU: €26.2 billion SISW: €2.8 billion (EU Budget Guarantee)
EFSI 2 Skills and Education Guarantee Pilot	Through the European Investment Fund and financial intermediaries located in Member States Debt finance instruments 2021	The Skills and Education Pilot is a new debt financing initiative dedicated to stimulating investments in education, training and skills. Final beneficiaries include students and learners, SMEs, mid-caps and training providers.	€50 billion (EU Budget Guarantee)

Through the European Investment Bank Group, implementing partners and financial institutions located in Member States
Repayable finance including debt and equity finance.
Starting in 2021

The Social investment and skills window (SISW) will cover both the demand and supply side of skills. Support will target students and learners, SMEs and mid-caps as well as providers of training.

InvestEU: €26.2 billion

SISW: €2.8 billion

(EU Budget Guarantee)

EFSI 2 Skills and Education Guarantee Pilot

Through the European Investment Fund and financial intermediaries located in Member States
Debt finance instruments
2021

The Skills and Education Pilot is a new debt financing initiative dedicated to stimulating investments in education, training and skills. Final beneficiaries include students and learners, SMEs, mid-caps and training providers.

€50 billion
(EU Budget Guarantee)

Accessible through national authorities

European programme/fund	Application process	Scope regarding skills	Expected volume for 2021-2027 (total budget of programme/fund)
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)	Grants and loans Process closely linked with European Semester and each country’s recovery and resilience plan, which will be assessed by the Commission From mid-2021 until 2026	Development of skills to support green and digital transition and resilience	€672.5 billion
REACT-EU (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe)	Additional resources for the ESF/ERDF 2014-2020 Programming period from 2021 to 2023	Skills development and relevant infrastructure and equipment linked to fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.	€47.5 billion
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+ under shared management)	Grants Programming period from 2021 to 2027	Modernising education and training systems. Promoting equal access to quality and inclusive education and training. Providing flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all. Anticipating new skills requirements based on labour market needs.	€87.3 billion
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)	Grants Programming period from 2021 to 2027	Infrastructure and equipment for education and training. Development of skills supporting industrial transformation and smart specialisations.	€200.4 billion
Just Transition Fund (JTF)	Grants 2021-2027	Development of skills focused on reskilling of workers in regions affected by economic and environmental transition	€17.5 billion
Digital Europe Programme		High-level digital skills	€6.761 billion
Erasmus+ (new MFF)	Through national authorities (mobility and strategic partnerships) Through EC (dedicated calls) Grants	Learning mobility of learners and staff (trainers, people responsible for upskilling in reskilling) Strategic partnerships working on new and better solutions supporting upskilling and reskilling Projects defining cooperation models with SMEs to support upskilling and reskilling Blueprints for Sectoral Cooperation Centres of Vocational Excellence
European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD)	Grants Programming period from 2021 to 2027	Knowledge exchange and information in rural areas	€95.5 billion

Accessible through the European Commission

European programme/fund	Application process	Scope regarding skills	Expected volume for 2021-2027 (total budget of programme/fund)
ESF+ EaSI Strand	Grants 2021-2027	Support for innovative approaches in the field of upskilling and reskilling	€676 million
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)	Grants Applications through national authorities At the earliest from mid-2021	Upskilling and reskilling of workers at risk of losing their job due to globalisation, as a result of a restructuring event at local level	a maximum annual amount of €186 million
European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE)	Loans Already available from 2020	SURE exclusively supports national short-term work schemes (i.e. salary compensation for reduced working time). Where envisaged under STWS, SURE can provide also support to upskilling and reskilling measures for workers benefitting under the schemes.	up to €100 billion

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Accessible through financial intermediaries

Accessible through national authorities

Accessible through the European Commission

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