Are tools in place to monitor the effectiveness of European Social Fund spending on older workers?

Abstract:

The European Social Fund is a key financial instrument for helping the Member States in the field of employment. Over the period 2007–13 the spending will amount to over €75bn or 8% of the European Union budget. For one disadvantaged group, older workers, the Court verified whether the Member States and the Commission had set up and implemented the tools necessary to assess the effectiveness of their actions towards this group.

Shortcomings were found in the design of the operational programmes and in the monitoring and evaluation systems. The Court makes recommendations with an aim of improving the monitoring and evaluation of the European Social Fund spending on specific target groups.