The European Commission has agreed proposals for a new European Social Fund programme for England for 2007 to 2013. All regions of England will benefit from the new programme, which will fund a range of activities such as job search advice and support, confidence building, basic skills and vocational qualifications.

The £2bn investment in jobs and skills in England over the next seven years from the European Union has been welcomed by work and pensions minister Mike O'Brien.

O'Brien says: "The new European Social Fund programme will support our aim to achieve full employment. It will complement our national initiatives by funding additional opportunities for people who are most disadvantaged in the labour market.

"By tackling barriers to work and improving skills, European Social Fund projects will help more people realise their potential. They will make a valuable contribution to our policies to build on record levels of employment by extending opportunities even further. Helping more people into work will in turn contribute to our wider goals to alleviate child poverty and promote social cohesion."

The programme will target unemployed people, disabled people, lone parents, older workers, ethnic minorities, low-skilled people, and young people not in education, employment or training.