About Empower Europe

What is EQUAL?

EQUAL is part of the European Union's strategy for more and better jobs and for ensuring that no one is denied access to them. Funded by the European Social Fund, EQUAL tests new ways of tackling discrimination and inequality experienced by those in work and those looking for a job. These new ideas could change future policy and practice in employment and training.

How it works?

EQUAL operates by bringing together the key players in a geographical area or sector. The different worlds of public administration, non-governmental organisations, social partners and the business sector (in particular SMEs) will work in partnership, pooling their different types of expertise and experience. These Development Partnerships agree a strategy within which they will try out new ways of dealing with problems of discrimination and inequality which they have already pinpointed. Central to the work of each Development Partnership is its links with at least one partnership from another country and its involvement in a network of others dealing with the same theme across Europe. Ideas are being tested with a view to using these results to influence the design of future policy and practice.

The Purpose and Objectives of EQUAL

The EQUAL Community Initiative Programme is structured within this wider European context being funded through the ESF and framed within the four EES pillars. These pillars were later set within the Amsterdam Treaty and the EQUAL Programme also follows from Article 13 and 137 of that Treaty, which provides a legal basis for combating discrimination based on gender, race, ethnic origin, religious or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation.

In the light of this integrated strategy, the EQUAL Community Initiative Programme aims to test and promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in the labour market, both for those in work and those seeking work, through transnational co-operation.

As noted above, the four pillars of the European Employment Strategy provide a framework for the ‘themes’ under which EQUAL projects are funded across the EU. Eight themes fall under the pillars, and a ninth relates to the integration of asylum seekers.