The new European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) will remain the main EU instrument for investing in people – tackling the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting high employment levels, building social protection and developing a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the transition to a green and digital economy. The ESF+ integrates the former European Social Fund (ESF), the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) and the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), allowing funding to be used in as efficient and coherent manner as possible. With a budget of over €99 billion (current prices) for the 2021-2027 period, that will be co-managed by the EU and members States. it will amongst others invest into reskilling and upskilling people for the transition to a green and digital economy. The ESF+ legislation has been published on 1 July 2021