Progress is the EU’s employment and social solidarity programme, established to support the implementation of the objectives set out in the Social Agenda (and therefore the social objectives of the Lisbon Agenda). Progress replaces the four previous programmes (which ended in 2006) covering actions against discrimination, equality between men and women, employment measures, and the fight against social exclusion.

 €743, 250,000 of funding is available to the EU 27 Member states, Members of the European Economic Area, and Turkey, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia for supporting activities under the following policy sections for the period 2007-2013.

Programme Objectives

• Improvement of the knowledge and understanding of situation prevailing in the participating countries through analysis and evaluation and the close monitoring of policies

• Support the development of statistical tools and methods and common indicators in the sections covered (see below)

• Support and monitor the implementation of Community law

• Promote networking, mutual learning, identification, and dissemination of good practice

• Enhance awareness of Community policies and objectives pursued under the sections covered (see below)

• Boost capacity of key European level networks to promote, support, and develop Community policies and objectives

Policy Section (% of available funding allocated)

• Employment(23%)

• Social Inclusion and social protection (30%)

• Working Conditions (10%)

• Anti Discrimination (23%)

• Gender Equality (12%)

Eligibility

Access to the programme is open to all public and / or private bodies (including Third Sector organisations), actors, and institutions, in particular:

• Member states

• Public Employment Services and their agencies

• Local and regional authorities

• Specialised bodies provided for under Community law

• Social Partners

• NGOs, particularly those organised at a European level

• Higher education institutions and research institutes

• Experts in evaluation

• National statistical offices

Project Examples

• Public awareness campaigns on EU social and employment policies and laws

• Training of legal and policy practitioners

• EU networks of NGOs fighting social exclusion and discrimination on grounds of race, sexual orientation, age, disability or promoting gender inequality

The Commission selects projects by calls for tender or calls for proposals. Projects are financed at a maximum of 80% with some exceptions.

Annual Plan of work

 The annual plan of work lists all activities that will be put in place through publication of calls for tender and calls for proposals.

Monitoring and Evaluation

A Committee of Member state representatives is established to assist the Commission in programme monitoring. Annual activity reports are drawn up by the Commission and forwarded to the Committee and European Parliament. For further information on the monitoring and evaluation of the progress programme, please see the Decision establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity.