The Structural Funds are the main financial instruments of European Union (EU) regional policy, which aims to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union by reducing the differences in development between regions.

More than one third of the total EU budget is allocated to three funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund.

ERDF is intended to support innovation, business development and infrastructure investment, while ESF promotes training, lifelong learning, and integration into working life of the unemployed and disadvantaged sections of the population. (see also Cohesion Fund)