Where EU funds are invested

The European Structural and Investment Funds are targeted at a number of investment areas across the European Union. When creating an Operational Programme, countries and regions have to set out the ways their investments target these areas.

Operational programmes are detailed plans created by Member States that set out how money from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) will be spent. They can be created for a specific region or a country-wide goal such as the Environment.

See below to explore the ways that funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds is invested:

• research and innovation
• National Broadband Plan
• supports for small business
• the low carbon economy
• protecting our environment
• sustainable urban development projects
• sustainable and quality employment
• social inclusion
• education, training and lifelong learning
• youth employment initiative
• aid to the most deprived
• the LEADER Programme