- go to current EQUAL ROUND II

Overview of EQUAL Community Initiative

EQUAL forms part of the overall strategy to ensure that the European Social Funds reflect the policy objectives of the European Employment Strategy with the ultimate aim of developing learning for policy and practice at national and EU level.

This is reflected in the structure and approach of the Initiative, as set out in the EQUAL Guidelines (go to http://europa.eu.int/comm/equal)

1. Themes: EQUAL is implemented across a number of Themes under the four pillars of the EU Employment Guidelines.
   
   
2. Partnership: EQUAL brings together key players in a geographical area or sector in Development Partnerships utilising their different types of expertise and experience.
   
   
3. Transnational co-operation: Transnationality is an essential element of EQUAL.
   
   
4. Empowerment: The principle of empowerment will be central to each Development Partnership.
   
   
5. Innovation: EQUAL will test innovative approaches to policy delivery.
   
   
6. Actions: The actions under which activities will be funded reflect the strategic objectives of EQUAL and the desire to influence national policy.