The Biodiversity Foundation, the managing body of the European Social Fund, has approved the development of training, awareness-raising and environmental needs analysis projects worth 13,996,314.17 euros co-financed by the European Social Fund. These actions are included in the framework of the Operational Programme “Entrepreneurship and Continuous Training of the F.S.E. for Objective 1 and 3 regions during the period 2000-2006.

The amount of co-financing from the European Social Fund for Objective 1 regions (Andalusia, Asturias, Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Murcia, Ceuta and Melilla) is 70%, while in the case of the Objective 3 regions (Aragon, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, the Basque Country and La Rioja) it is 45%. The latter are also co-financed by the Biodiversity Foundation up to 25%, which represents a maximum of 70% of the total cost.

For the development of these actions, the Biodiversity Foundation will initiate and strengthen the lines of action with public and private non-profit entities and organizations concerned with improving knowledge of environmental problems through training. Thus, of the 31 projects to be carried out in 2007, 4 have been awarded to public administrations, 6 to the academic sector, 6 to non-governmental organizations and foundations, 2 to chambers of commerce, 8 to the business sector and 5 to trade unions.

The beneficiary entities belong to 14 autonomous communities. Thus, 5 of them are from Madrid, 5 from Galicia, 4 from Andalusia, 4 from the Valencian Community, 3 from the Basque Country, 2 from Asturias, and 1 from Aragon, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Ceuta, the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, the Autonomous Community of Navarre, Extremadura and Murcia.

TRAINING ACTIONS

The programme of actions that will be carried out this year is aimed at improving the training and environmental awareness of workers in small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed professionals, and disadvantaged groups: women, employees over 45 years of age, low-skilled workers and the disabled, related to the environmental sector. For this reason, the selected projects have an impact on continuous training, awareness-raising, new learning systems, the use of new technologies as a pedagogical and production tool, the promotion of the implementation of environmental technology, quality and safety in the company, as well as the increase in the preparation and concern of workers for the environment.