A fund serves as a financial support mechanism used to invest in key areas of society and the economy. Within the European Union, funds play a vital role in encouraging balanced and sustainable growth across all member states and their regions. The primary objective of EU funds is to reduce social and economic disparities among EU countries, promote employment, boost competitiveness, and safeguard the environment. In the Czech Republic, EU funds are managed under the authority of the Ministry for Regional Development.

The European Union establishes funds to respond effectively to the needs of individual regions and demographic groups, thereby reinforcing the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of the entire Union. At the same time, EU funds help fulfill strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal, digital transformation, fostering innovation, and social inclusion.

Key EU Funds for Grant Drawing

The European Commission has set common rules for eight funds that together constitute the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). Financial resources from structural funds are drawn in multi-year cycles known as programming periods, which typically last 7 years. The current programming period covers 2021–2027.

• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – focuses on supporting investments in infrastructure, innovation, and research for small and medium-sized enterprises, with a special emphasis on less developed regions.
• European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) – supports employment, social inclusion, education, and upskilling for the workforce.
• Cohesion Fund (CF) – finances major infrastructure projects in transport and the environment in member states with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita below 90% of the EU average.
• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – aims to support rural development, enhance agricultural competitiveness, and foster sustainable natural resource management.
• European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) – supports the sustainable development of fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal communities.
• Just Transition Fund (JTF) – assists regions and sectors most affected by the shift toward a climate-neutral economy, which is the main goal of the European Green Deal aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.
• Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) – aims to contribute to the efficient management of migration flows and improve the implementation and development of asylum policy.
• Internal Security Fund (ISF) – targets serious, cross-border, and organized crime while strengthening police cooperation and crisis management.
• Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI) – responds to current challenges regarding the internal security of the EU.

Opportunities for drawing grants from EU funds

Financial support can be obtained from European Structural and Investment Funds in the form of European grants. An operational programme is a concrete framework through which resources from EU funds are implemented in practice. Each operational programme targets a specific area of development (such as transport, education, environment, or business).