struktuurifonde

Struktuurifondid, or Structural Funds, are European Union funds aimed at reducing regional disparities and promoting sustainable, balanced growth within the EU through cohesion policy. They support modernization of economies, competitiveness, and social cohesion by financing infrastructure, innovation, environmental improvements, and human capital development in less-developed regions.

The core structural funds are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). A third instrument, the Cohesion Fund, finances large-scale environment and transport projects in member states with lower income. In the current framework, ESF has been merged into ESF+ as the broader instrument for employment and social policy, while ERDF and the Cohesion Fund remain central to cohesion spending. Other instruments, such as the Just Transition Fund, operate alongside these funds to assist regions undergoing significant economic transitions.

Implementation occurs through multiannual programs at national or regional levels, known as Operational Programs, prepared by member states and approved by the European Commission. Funding is a mix of EU and national co-financing and is guided by priorities aligned with EU goals, including innovation, digitalization, climate action, job creation, and social inclusion.

Impact and role: Structural funds support a wide range of projects, from transport and digital infrastructure to research facilities, energy efficiency improvements, and skills development. They are a central component of the EU’s cohesion policy, with governance that emphasizes partnership among public authorities, businesses, and civil society to promote more balanced development across regions.