Diversity-none-01Early last month the European Commission published a guidance note for Member States, providing recommendations for the efficient use of European Structural and Investments Funds (ESI Funds) in tackling spatial and educational segregation based on the EU legislative and policy frameworks.

In metropolitan areas around the world, persons experiencing poverty live segregated in their neighborhoods. They tend to cluster together (often involuntarily) in places with few jobs, no services, low quality schools and no positive role models. Usually, segregation is associated with income status but, depending on the cultural and historical context, it can also be associated with religion and ethnicity.

None of the EU 2020 Strategy priorities will be achieved without real efforts to reduce the spatial and educational segregation of underprivileged people.

The aim of the guidance note published by the Commission is to assist the public authorities of Member States in redesigning and implementing the education and housing desegregation interventions as part of the ESI Funds in the 2014-2020 period. However, it also represents a valuable resource for civil society stakeholders in monitoring the effective use of the funds on the basis of the EU legislative and policy frameworks.

Find the guidance note here.