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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To strengthen the labor market and increase employment in Flanders by funding projects focused on training, improving access to the labor market, promoting social inclusion, fostering equality, and supporting active aging.
Target recipient type and size: Public or private organizations, including SMEs (kmo's) and non-profits (vzw's).
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC
Geographic scope and any location requirements: Flanders, Belgium.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Projects must contribute to a 'smart, sustainable, inclusive, and non-discriminatory employment market' and align with Flemish labor market priorities.
Grant frequency and program context: This is an ongoing program (Europees Sociaal Fonds Plus) that releases recurring calls for proposals, each with specific objectives and criteria.

Financial Structure

Funding Type: Subsidy (grant).
Budget Range: Not specified for the overall program; funding amounts vary per specific call for proposals.
Funding Rate: The European contribution is always supplementary and capped at a maximum of 50% of the eligible project costs. The exact co-financing percentage varies per call.
Matching Fund Requirements: Required. ESF+ funding is always complementary to contributions from the private sector or other (public) sources.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs: Specific eligible and ineligible cost categories are not detailed for the overall program; these are defined within each individual call fiche.
De-minimis Aid: The awarded subsidy may fall under the European de-minimis regulation. If so, this is always explicitly stated in the relevant call fiche. The total de-minimis aid received by an organization over three years cannot exceed €300,000.
Financial Reporting: Required via the 'Platos' online application. Worked hours of personnel involved in the project must be registered in a separate time registration application and automatically transferred to reports in Platos.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Legal Status

Eligible: Any public or private organization. This includes SMEs ('kmo's') and non-profits ('vzw').
Ineligible: Sole proprietorships ('eenmanszaken') are generally not eligible.
Definition of 'enterprise': An 'enterprise' is defined as any entity that performs an economic activity, regardless of its legal form and financing method (this includes sole proprietorships, companies, and non-profits when they conduct economic activities).

Geographic Location

Organizations must be based in Flanders, Belgium, and projects must be implemented within this region.

Partnership Requirements

Some calls for proposals under this program may require the formation of a partnership. If a partnership is required, the applying organization must act as the lead promoter of this partnership.

De-minimis Aid Compliance

Organizations must comply with the EU de-minimis regulation. The cumulative amount of de-minimis aid received from any source over the current fiscal year and the two preceding fiscal years (or three years calculated day-to-day from Jan 1, 2024) must not exceed €300,000.
If the organization is part of a group of 'connected enterprises' (where there's a participation of over 50% in capital or voting rights), this €300,000 threshold applies to the entire group within the same EU member state.

Application Process

Application Procedure

The ESF+ program operates through specific calls for proposals ('oproepen'). Applicants must respond to an open call.
Information regarding all current open calls, including their specific fiches, is available on the Europa WSE website: www.europawse.be/praktische-info/openstaande-oproepen.
Application submission is exclusively through the online web application 'Platos'.

Pre-Application Requirements

Organizations must first register as a user with 'Gebruikersbeheer Vlaanderen' (Flanders User Management) to gain access to the 'Platos' application.
A legal representative or local administrator within the applicant organization must grant the appropriate user rights for 'Platos' in 'Gebruikersbeheer Vlaanderen'.

Application Steps (via Platos)

1. Log in to the 'Platos' platform via https://loket.wewis.vlaanderen.be/platos.
1. Select the specific call for proposals you wish to apply for.
1. Initiate a new project application for the selected call.
1. Complete all required information in the designated fields within the application form.
1. Electronically 'endorse' (submit) the completed project application.

Project Implementation and Reporting Obligations

Worked hours of personnel must be registered in a separate time registration application, which automatically loads this data into the reports in Platos.
Reporting is also done via Platos by logging in, navigating to 'My projects', selecting the project, choosing the relevant reporting period, filling in reporting questions, and uploading any required attachments.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines are specific to each individual call for proposals. The latest noted deadline from current open calls is 2025-11-14.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria are specified per individual call for proposals. However, the program's overarching objectives indicate the general scoring factors: Strategic Alignment

Alignment with the ESF+ objective of fostering a 'smart, sustainable, inclusive, and non-discriminatory employment market'.
Contribution to the European Union's broader 'Europe 2020' objectives.

Impact on Flemish Priorities

Promotion of projects for sustainable, high-quality jobs and labor mobility.
Investment in education, training, and lifelong learning, particularly at crucial career transition points.
Support for social integration, equality, and poverty reduction, with a focus on key risk groups.
Initiatives that encourage active aging and create attractive environments for older workers.

Project Quality & Feasibility

Specific quality standards and expected deliverables will be outlined in each call fiche.
The feasibility and expected outcomes of the proposed project in relation to its objectives.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must comply with the European Union's regulatory framework for structural funds, managed jointly by the EU and the Flemish government.

De-minimis Aid Regulations

Compliance with the EU de-minimis regulation is a strict requirement for calls where it is applicable. This includes adhering to the €300,000 cumulative aid limit over three fiscal years.
A 'declaration on honor' regarding previously received de-minimis aid is required during the application process.
A central European register for de-minimis aid will be active from January 1, 2026, which will streamline compliance checks.

Digital Application & Reporting Mandate

The use of the 'Platos' online application is mandatory for all stages of the grant process, from application submission to ongoing project reporting and financial settlement.
Secure access to 'Platos' is managed through 'Gebruikersbeheer Vlaanderen', requiring proper user registration and access right assignment within the applying organization.