The European Union supports poorer regions of Member States by providing funds to help them regenerate their economies and create new jobs. The four most important funding programmes are known collectively as ‘Structural Funds’.
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The current European Structural Funds Programmes for Yorkshire and The Humber that have operated since 2000 came to an end in December 2006, although projects which have recently received Objective 1,2 and 3 Funds will be able to spend until 2008. The aim of this funding has been to help economic regeneration in the region and create new jobs.
Yorkshire and The Humber will continue to benefit from ERDF and ESF between 2007 and 2013.
Current Programmes :
Objective 1 Programme in South Yorkshire
The Objective 1 Programme for South Yorkshire is a £1.8 billion investment programme that aims to restructure South Yorkshire's economy and restore prosperity with the help of over £700 million of European Structural Funds alongside UK Government and private sector resources.
Objective 2 Programme in East, North, West Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire
The Objective 2 Programme is a near £1billion investment programme, which is supporting business growth and entrepreneurship, connecting people to opportunities, and funding physical developments that promote economic development, with £350 million of European Structural Funds alongside UK public and private sector sources.
Objective 3 Programme in East, North, West Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire
The European Social Fund Objective 3 is part of the European Union’s initiative to support activities to promote employment opportunities for all. Yorkshire and The Humber will receive over £180 million to support projects that tackle long-term unemployment, improve education and training, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote equal opportunities.
Urban II
URBAN II is a Community Initiative supported by European Structural Funds. It seeks to promote economic and social regeneration in small, concentrated areas of a town or city which face severe deprivation and specific challenges. It also seeks to strengthen information and experience-sharing on sustainable urban development within those communities. In this region, the URBAN programme covers areas within the Illingworth, Mixenden, Ovenden, St.John's and Town wards of Halifax, West Yorkshire.
