MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA Y ADMINISTRACIONES PÚBLICAS

To promote a harmonious development of the European Union, the community institutions, in collaboration with the member states and their regions, are carrying out actions and interventions geared towards strengthening the economic and social cohesion of the Union. The Community, in particular, is working to reduce the differences between the levels of development in the various regions and the slower advance for less favoured countries, including rural areas and islands. To carry out this aim, the Community is using structural funds, cohesion funds, European Investment Bank funds and other financial instruments (European Investment Funds, loans and Euratom guarantees).

The European Union has four Structural Funds. Through them, it channels its financial assistance to member states to resolve economic and social structural obstacles that prevent or slow down the process for reducing inequalities between the various regions and social groups. These structural funds are, specifically:

• The European Regional Development Fund (ERDE)
• The European Social Fund (ESF)
• The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund guidance section (EAGGF)
• The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)

• Website of the Directorate-General of European Union Funds
• Statistics and reports