Steps 2 and 3. Identifying and developing possible work-life balance interventions

Table below categorises proposed interventions according to objectives in proposed funds’ regulations. It also adds a set of proposed actions that are not explicitly mentioned in legislative acts. These would support work-life balance by enhancing the quality and accessibility of care provision; supporting active ageing; strengthening integrated health care communication; advancing the integration of shared services; and enhancing the integration of employability, migrant support and care workforce expansion by improving the quality of care-related employment. These actions are offered as a form of guidance exemplified for the ERDF and ESF+; they will help you think about possible interventions and components of project design.

Step 2. Identify possible interventions from the regulation on the post-2020 period

Policy objective 1

A smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation (main policy objective for the ERDF; additional policy objective for the ESF+)

  • Business infrastructure for SMEs (including industrial parks and sites)
  • SME business development and internationalisation
  • Skills development for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship
  • Advanced support services for SMEs and groups of SMEs (including management, marketing and design services)
  • Incubation support for spin-offs, spin-outs and start-ups
  • Innovation cluster support and business networks primarily benefitting SMEs
  • Innovation processes in SMEs (process, organisational, marketing, co-creation, user- and demand-driven innovation)
  • Research and innovation processes, technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises focusing on the circular economy

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Please note, the interventions below are only examples

Policy objective 2

A greener, low-carbon Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate adaptation, and risk prevention and management (main policy objective for the ERDF; additional policy objective for the ESF+)

  • Household waste management, including prevention, minimisation, sorting and recycling
  • Clean urban transport infrastructure

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Policy objective 3

A more connected Europe by enhancing mobility and regional ICT connectivity (policy objective applicable to the ERDF)

  • Cycling infrastructure
  • Digitalisation of urban transport
  • Multimodal transport (Trans-European Transport Network — TEN-T)
  • Multimodal transport (rural/non-urban)
  • Digitising transport via other modes of transport 

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Policy objective 4

A more social Europe by implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (main policy objective for the ESF+; additional policy objective for the ERDF)

  • Infrastructure for early childhood education and care
  • Infrastructure for primary and secondary education
  • Infrastructure for vocational education, training and adult learning
  • Housing infrastructure for migrants, refugees and persons under or applying for international protection

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Policy objective 5

A Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of urban, rural and coastal areas and local initiatives (policy objective applicable to both the ESF+ and the ERDF)

  • Protection, development and promotion of public tourism assets and related tourism services
  • Protection, development and promotion of cultural heritage and cultural services
  • Protection, development and promotion of natural heritage and ecotourism
  • Physical regeneration and security of public spaces

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Other codes related to policy objectives 1-5 (applicable to both the ERDF and the ESF+)

  • Improving the capacity of programme authorities and bodies linked to the funds’ implementation
  • Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside EU Member States
  • Cross-financing under the ERDF, including support for actions that are similar to those financed by the ESF+ and necessary for the implementation of operations directly linked to the ERDF

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote

Technical assistance (applicable to both the ERDF and the ESF+)

  • Information and communication
  • Preparation, implementation, monitoring and control
  • Evaluation, studies and data collection
  • Reinforcement of the capacity of Member State authorities, beneficiaries and relevant partners

Step 3. Develop gender-aware actions to promote