In March, the European Parliament's plenary session will vote on a report from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee calling for a strengthened European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) within the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the MFF 2028-2034. More resources are needed for the Child Guarantee, Youth Guarantee, and housing crisis, with a firm no to merging with other ESF+ funds, which must remain autonomous and under shared management.
European Budget: the status quo is not an option for the MFF 2028-2034
To protect the EU's social priorities and address challenges such as climate change and digitalization by investing in people and skills, the next Cohesion Policy must rely on a strengthened and autonomous European Social Fund. Here is a summary of the European Parliament's requests.
Post-2027 ESF+: More Resources and Shared Management
First, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) of the Parliament calls for adequate resources for the post-2027 European Social Fund, specifically doubled compared to the current programming. In the 2021-2027 period, the EU budget allocation amounts to €95.1 billion, which becomes approximately €142 billion with Member States' co-financing, plus nearly €762 million from the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) component.
The ESF+ 2028-2034 must also be based on a model of shared governance, allowing for national, regional, and local specificities in operational programs.
