EaSI Actions in the EU
EU Member States design and implement actions under the EaSI strand, aligned with the objectives of the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) in the fields of employment, mobility, education, and social inclusion.
In the current programming period (2021–2027), special emphasis is placed on the Social Innovation Initiative, aiming at scaling up and disseminating innovative solutions that have already been piloted on a smaller scale.
Indicative EaSI actions
Interventions carried out under EaSI cover a broad and diverse range of activities, such as:
- Pilot projects of social innovation at local or national level.
- Programmes to strengthen labour mobility in cross-border regions.
- Measures to combat discrimination and promote equality.
- Networks for the exchange of knowledge and best practices among Member States.
- Initiatives to improve skills and enhance employability.
- Schemes supporting social entrepreneurship and the social economy.
Monitoring and evaluation of progress are based on six key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Performance Framework, relating to:
Analytical Activities
EaSI analytical activities aim to support evidence-based policymaking by the European Commission in the areas of employment and skills, labour markets and labour mobility, social protection and inclusion, as well as working conditions.
They include:
- Collection of data and statistics.
- Development of common methodologies.
- Monitoring and evaluation of legislation and policies.
- Research and mapping of projects.
- Assessment of practices.
Outputs: guides, reports, training material, and the organisation of events (expert meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences).
Information Exchange and Mutual Learning Activities
These activities aim to foster effective and inclusive knowledge sharing, strengthen mutual learning, and promote dialogue in the relevant policy areas. By exchanging experiences and results from other countries, policymakers gain access to a broader range of options, which can contribute to the development of innovative and more targeted policy measures.
The activities comprise five main categories:
- Exchange of good practices, peer reviews, mutual learning, and training
- Systematic collection and presentation of examples of successful policies.
- Organisation of peer reviews for feedback and improvement of policy designs.
- Council Presidency events, conferences, and seminars
- Promotion of political dialogue at the highest level.
- Strengthening of transnational cooperation through thematic conferences and workshops.
- Creation of a common framework for understanding and sharing experiences.
- Guides, reports, and training material
- Production of guides and policy tools.
- Preparation of evaluation reports and good practices.
- Development of training material tailored to the needs of participants.
- Information and dissemination
- Creation of information and knowledge platforms.
- Dissemination of newsletters, awareness-raising campaigns, and digital content.
- Promotion of access to open data and policy databases.
- Networking and partnerships
- Strengthening cooperation between competent authorities and relevant organisations.
- Establishment of thematic networks and communities of practice.
- Support for long-term partnerships to facilitate the exchange of expertise.
Social Experimentation Activities
The “Social Innovation+” initiative is a flagship component of the EaSI strand under the ESF+, implemented under indirect management by the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA) in Lithuania. The ESFA is responsible for preparing and launching EU-wide calls for proposals, supporting the capacity-building of stakeholders, working with National Competence Centres for Social Innovation, validating and showcasing innovative solutions through the EU Social Innovation Database, and promoting collaboration via thematic Communities of Practice.
Social Innovation fosters cooperation among Member States to accelerate the transfer and scale-up of innovative solutions to social challenges.
Examples of Activities
- Green & Digital Transition
Innovative training programmes enabling workers and jobseekers to acquire skills for the green and digital jobs of the future. - Social Inclusion
Pilot projects promoting new approaches for the inclusion of vulnerable groups, through personalised support and social entrepreneurship. - Addressing Homelessness
Testing new practices such as the Housing First model, in cooperation with local authorities, social services, and NGOs. - Communities of Practice (CoPs)
Collaborative networks among countries for the exchange of experiences, validation, and large-scale implementation of solutions. - Digital Tools & Databases
- EU Social Innovation Database: showcasing innovative solutions at EU level.
- Social Innovation Match (SIM): a platform for identifying projects, partnerships, and scale-up opportunities.
Within this framework, notable initiatives have included:
- Call for Proposals “Aim-Learn-Master-Achieve – ALMA”
The ALMA call focuses on expanding or transferring mobility programmes across Europe. Its primary goal is to support Member States in integrating ALMA into ESF+ programmes through pilot or scaled-up activities.
For the first time, Greece participated by implementing pilot mobility programmes for vulnerable young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). This small-scale cooperation lays the foundations for future expansion.
With EaSI funding and support, additional projects were developed to promote:
- Women’s entrepreneurship and female participation in the labour market.
- The inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace.
- Combating discrimination against vulnerable groups.
EaSI has also facilitated the organisation of events and the provision of advisory services to promote social innovation and strengthen social protection, while encouraging networking and the dissemination of good practices.
- Call for Proposals for National Competence Centres (NCCs)
This call aims to establish and develop National Competence Centres in order to create a more enabling environment for social innovation and to strengthen transnational cooperation.
Greece participates in the SEED2SCALE project together with Croatia, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia, with the objective of creating and operating a National Competence Centre in each country.
SEED2SCALE builds on the successful SEED project (2021–2023), which laid the foundations for the design of Competence Centres and the development of a stakeholder ecosystem. The new phase focuses on scale-up and systematic collaboration to strengthen the European social innovation space.
- Thematic Communities of Practice (CoPs)
Thematic Communities of Practice represent another key pillar of the “Social Innovation+” initiative. Their objective is to establish transnational cooperation networks that:
- Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
- Support the validation and dissemination of innovative solutions.
- Strengthen cooperation among public bodies, social partners, NGOs, and research institutions.
Through CoPs, Member States gain the opportunity to exchange good practices, develop common methodologies, and enhance their capacity to implement social innovation projects effectively. In addition, they help link National Competence Centres (NCCs) with the EU Social Innovation Database, thereby reinforcing networking and dissemination of results.
- Databases & Knowledge Tools
Through the EaSI strand, the European Commission supports tools that facilitate the exchange and transfer of innovative approaches, such as:
- The EU Social Innovation Database, which gathers validated practices and projects.
- The Social Innovation Match (SIM) platform, which enables stakeholders to showcase their initiatives, search for partnerships, and explore opportunities for replication or scale-up.
These tools enhance the visibility, recognition, and sustainability of social innovations at European level.
Capacity-Building and Networking Activities
These activities aim to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and effectiveness of organisations involved in implementing social policies, contributing to a stronger and more interconnected ecosystem.
They include:
- Training and skills development for public bodies and services.
- Institutional upgrading through new tools for policy monitoring and evaluation.
- Networking and partnerships among public services, social partners, NGOs, and social economy actors.
- Support for microfinance and financial instruments for social enterprises.
- Dissemination of knowledge and good practices through conferences, workshops, and guides.
Job Placement Activities under Targeted Mobility Schemes
These actions aim to improve access to employment, modernise the labour market, and enhance active inclusion and employability.
They include:
- Capacity-building and training initiatives.
- Communication activities (conferences, events, meetings).
- Data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting.
- Development of IT projects and support tools.
- Involvement of stakeholders such as academia, researchers, experts, NGOs, businesses, international organisations, public authorities, and social partners.
Main objective: to promote voluntary geographical mobility of workers through targeted support services for both employers and jobseekers.
Support provided:
- Pre-recruitment guidance.
- Comprehensive assistance during the recruitment process.
- Continuous post-placement support.
Particular emphasis is placed on filling vacancies in:
- Specific sectors and occupations.
- Cross-border regions.
- Vulnerable social groups.
Annual Work Programmes
EaSI activities are set out in annual work programmes, developed in consultation with EU Member States and stakeholders, including civil society representatives.
These programmes define the main policy priorities supported by the EaSI strand each year, and can be accessed at the following address: