Freital (dpa/sn) – Saxony will receive more than three billion euros in funding from the EU in the current funding period from 2021 to 2027. 2.5 billion euros come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus). In addition, there are 645 million euros from the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which is intended to prepare and support the restructuring in the Saxon coal regions, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on Thursday in Freital. “Saxony would look different without EU funding,” explained Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD).
“The EU structural funds have helped Saxony in the past to successfully shape the development process after the founding of the Free State since 1990 and to work its way to the top in some economic sectors,” emphasized Dulig. We are now faced with enormous ecological, economic and social challenges, which the war in Ukraine is also having the effect of like a magnifying glass.
The ERDF funds (1.95 billion euros) are to be used primarily for innovation, research, business and climate protection. Almost 680 million euros are earmarked for the energy transition and climate protection. “In this way we support, for example, an efficient circular economy, intelligent energy and storage systems or sustainable mobility,” explained Dulig.
The education sector is to be supported with a good 227 million euros from ESF funds. This can benefit learning opportunities at school, but also retraining for adults or programs at universities. Saxony intends to use part of the ERDF and ESF Plus funds for urban development in selected districts. “We use the EU funds in such a way that they help to make Saxony fit for the future,” explained the minister.
