The Structural Funds are financial instruments of the EU regional policy. They assist the EU regions whose development is for various reasons lagging behind. Their overall aim is to reduce the gap and create an even and balanced development of all EU countries and regions.

The Structural Funds include four financial instruments:

the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - contributes to reducing disparities in the economic and social development of EU regions by supporting investments in production and infrastructure, health and education.

the European Social Fund (ESF) is a financial instrument for investing in people; its mission is to reduce unemployment, boost employability and foster the spirit of entrepreneurship, to invest in the skills and knowledge, to ensure commitment to equal opportunities and social inclusion for all in the labour market;

the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) – supports the structural reform of the agricultural sector and the development of rural areas;

the Financial Instrument for Fisheries (FIFG) supports efforts towards sustainable balance between fishery resources and their exploitation, competitiveness of the fishery sector, and the development of areas dependent upon it.

In addition, there are four Community Initiatives: Interreg III, Equal, Leader+, and Urban II. They deal with the issues that concern the entire EU and are not limited to a single country. Each Initiative functions under one of the Funds.

The Cohesion Fund contributes towards the strengthening of economic and social cohesion, and co-financing projects concerning the environment or transport infrastructure, in particular trans-European networks, in Member States whose per capita GDP is below 90 % of the Community average. It was established in 1994 by the Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 amended by Regulations (EC) No 1264/1999 and (EC) No 1265/1999. In the period 2004–2006, Slovenia is entitled to EUR 190,6 million under the Cohesion Fund. The funding is to be split between the environment and transport projects in a 50:50 ratio. Formally, the cohesion strategy is established in the Cohesion Fund Reference Framework.

EU Structural Funds in Slovenia

The web site was created with financial support from the Structural Funds - the European Regional Development Fund, technical assistance. It is maintained by the Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy.