Valencia Unveils ESF+ Plan Through 2027 to Accelerate Jobs, Education, and Inclusion
The Generalitat released a draft operational program for the European Social Fund through 2027, inviting input from individuals, associations, administrations, and citizens. The plan proposes dedicating 343.2 million euros to boost employment, education, and social inclusion in the Community of Valencia, with a clear emphasis on groups facing higher barriers such as youth, long-term unemployment, women, and people with disabilities. The aim is to widen opportunities and reduce gaps that can hinder equal participation in the regional economy.
The announcement was made during a gathering with leaders from a regional civic initiative involved in the Eurodyssey program, highlighting ESF+ as a more agile and strengthened evolution of the current framework. The program targets the reduction of inequalities while promoting high-quality employment and skill development across the region, ensuring a more resilient labor market and inclusive growth for Valencia.
Official statements noted that all key economic indicators point to a Valencia moment. European funds are viewed as a catalyst to reproduce and sustain recent growth, with the overarching objective of steady progress in job creation and overall economic vitality throughout the Valencian Community.
The core objective of these European funds is to strengthen social mobility within Valencia. The program seeks to ensure that every individual and group can access decent work and social integration, while businesses gain access to a more skilled and prepared workforce capable of meeting modern market demands.
Officials stressed that the European Social Fund acts as a transformative instrument for the Valencian Community. The document will evolve with input from citizens and organizations, remaining open to further comments and refinements in the weeks ahead (EU ESF+ attribution).
Eurodyssey Scholarships Extended to Six Months
During the meeting with Valencia Activa officials, additional details were provided about the framework to regulate subsidies under the Eurodyssey Program, which is co-financed by ESF+. A key change is the extension of vocational internships for young people aged 18 to 30 to six months, up from five months in earlier rounds, to ensure broader benefits for participants and the organizations that host them.
These grants subsidize internship agreements for forty young Europeans from regions covered by Eurodyssey, enabling them to gain high-quality professional experience in Valencian Community companies and organizations with compensation at least equal to the interprofessional minimum wage. The program operates on reciprocity, encouraging Valencian interns to undertake placements with European partner regions, thereby improving language skills, education, and work experience.
Administrations urged Valencian companies to enroll in Eurodyssey and welcome international youth, arguing that this approach builds a trained human capital base, enhances competitiveness, and supports internationalization. It also provides young people with paid professional opportunities abroad, broadening career horizons and strengthening ties across Europe (EU ESF+ attribution).