Representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment today visited the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation to learn about the initiatives that promote the green economy as a driver of growth and employment within the framework of the Empleaverde Programme and the Emprendeverde Network of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. Representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment today visited the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation to learn about the initiatives that promote the green economy as a driver of growth and employment within the framework of the Empleaverde Programme and the Emprendeverde Network of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
 
During the meeting, the Biodiversity Foundation presented the results achieved in its 12 years of management of community funds as an Intermediate Body of the European Social Fund.
 
Thus, in the period 2001-2006, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation, managed 98 million euros and developed more than 7,000 actions aimed at 1.5 million workers. As an Intermediate Body of the Adaptability and Employment Operational Programme 2007-2013, it launched the Empleaverde Programme, aimed at improving and promoting employment and entrepreneurship. This programme, which has an endowment of 40.9 million euros, is managed through calls and own projects such as the Red emprendeverde, the first platform specialising in green business aimed at investors and entrepreneurs.
 
With more than 5,000 members, this platform has contributed to the creation and consolidation of companies and has channeled investment towards sustainable economic activities.
 
Within the framework of the calls for grants, the MAGRAMA collaborates with more than 480 organizations in the 300 approved projects. The projects have supported the creation of more than 2,000 companies or economic activities linked to the environment and the training of 55,000 workers out of the more than 900,000 beneficiaries of the projects.
 
During the visit, entrepreneurs who are finalists of the Emprendeverde Network Awards presented their initiatives and the support received from the Biodiversity Foundation and the European Social Fund in the process of creating and consolidating their companies and businesses.
 
Along these lines, representatives of entities that develop projects within the framework of the Empleaverde Programme linked to improving the competitiveness of companies and promoting green employment also participated in the conference.