The Diplomat
The European Commission will deliver an additional €96.3 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) to the autonomous communities of Madrid, Asturias and Aragon, under REACT-EU (one of the largest Next Generation EU programs), to help workers and job seekers and improve social services, education and healthcare.
In the Community of Madrid, Brussels will provide 77.7 million euros to help job seekers, with a special focus on young people, to find work, including through additional vocational education and training (VET) opportunities, the Commission said.
In addition, €14.9 million will go to Asturias for the recruitment of VET trainers, professionals for primary schools specialized in supporting therapeutic pedagogy for hearing and language impairment. EU funds will also be used to hire more nursing and care specialists.
Furthermore, Aragon will receive 3.7 million euros to help less qualified people access training opportunities and obtain professional qualifications in sectors with high labor demand, as well as to improve access to social services for vulnerable people, including people with disabilities.
The European Commission has earmarked €40 billion to help Member States recover from the pandemic, to invest in the digital and ecological transition, and to welcome and integrate people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under REACT-EU, pre-financing payments of €3.5 billion have been made to Member States since March 2022.
