European Opportunities for the Labor Market
Europe is investing heavily in projects that strengthen the labor market, develop skills, and offer new opportunities to groups facing barriers to employment. For organizations looking to innovate, scale up, or collaborate in the region, programs such as Interreg, ESF+, and EFRO/Kansen voor West offer significant opportunities.
We have been supporting successful European labor market projects for many years. For example, we have worked on ERDF projects in Rotterdam and The Hague, where we helped partners refine their project ideas, build strong consortia, and draft compelling proposals.
Why European labor market funding is valuable
European programs go beyond a one-time boost. They provide opportunities for:
• innovative pilot projects,
• collaboration between educational institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations,
• scaling up proven approaches,
• structural improvements to regional labor markets.
The key is to determine which instrument is truly the right fit: Interreg for cross-border cooperation, ERDF/Kansen voor West for innovation and urban vitality, and ESF+ for sustainable employability and social inclusion.
Our role in your European journey
A successful European grant application requires vision, partnership, timing, and visibility. We help organizations with:
• refining the project idea and labor market objectives,
• selecting the most appropriate funding program,
• building a consortium that contributes to real impact,
• writing and structuring a strong application,
• representing your project in relevant European networks.
Attending European meetings really makes a difference
Many European opportunities don’t just arise from behind a laptop, but rather during meetings, information sessions, and partner events. The 2MakeItHappen team attends these events both domestically and abroad, establishes valuable contacts, and brings projects to the attention of European program teams.
This helps to:
• find the right partners more quickly,
• pick up on signals about new calls for proposals,
• bring projects to the attention of program officers sooner,
• increase the chances of success for a grant application.
For organizations looking to grow
Whether it’s an Interreg pilot, an ERDF innovation project, or an ESF+ initiative focused on participation, we ensure that plans are clear, feasible, and have a strong chance of success. With our experience across various regions, we help advance labor market projects—from concept to submission.