Regions and cities call for a stronger Social Fund in the next EU budget

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has expressed its opposition to European Commission plans to merge the European Social Fund (ESF) with other EU instruments within single national plans, calling for it to be preserved as a self-standing tool. The Committee also called for the ESF budget to be increased, to over €124 billion in 2028-34.

The request was included in the opinion unanimously adopted by the plenary session on 2 July, drafted by Tom Jungen (LU/PES), mayor of Roeser.

Regional and local leaders argued that depopulation of rural areas, energy poverty, unemployment and homelessness are social emergencies that must be addressed by the European Union and that the EU cannot tackle them effectively without the necessary financial resources. The 14% minimum target for social spending foreseen by the European Commission in its proposal for the EU long-term budget 2028-34 is not enough, they said They therefore called for the European Social Fund to be preserved and for it to be one of the main EU financial instruments, with its seven-year budget to be increased from the current €100 billion to at least €124.19 billion (2025 prices).

It is estimated that 94.6 million people, two out of ten EU citizens, live in households at risk of poverty or social exclusion, that 42% of the EU population lack basic digital skills, and that more than 50 million workers need training. CoR members underlined that a strong ESF would give the Union the financial resources needed to tackle these challenges, achieve the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, invest in social cohesion, combat child poverty and support young people in finding jobs.

Stronger safeguards against poverty

One in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the youth unemployment rate is nearing 15%. Regions and cities argued that these warning figures prove the need to reinforce the European Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee with dedicated budgets, place-based indicators and the involvement of specialised civil-society organisations.

CoR members called for the ESF to be given a crucial role in the fight against poverty, and, in particular, they asked for stronger safeguards against child poverty. Actions against poverty should include the Quality Jobs Roadmap proposed by the European Commission, with measures based on education and training and on promoting fair and decent wages. A genuine territorial approach to social investment and a meaningful involvement of for local and regional authorities is crucial to guarantee the effectiveness of the ESF, the opinion argues.

Quote:

Rapporteur Tom Jungen (LU/PES), mayor of Roeser: "The question is no longer whether the European Social Fund will continue to exist. It will. The real question is whether it will remain a strong and protected European instrument or become just another spending objective, competing with many others. Europe needs a visible and well-funded ESF that continues to invest in skills, quality jobs, child poverty and social inclusion. There is no competitiveness without social cohesion."

More information

• Videos and photos of the CoR plenary session.
• The adopted opinion is part of a series of 20 opinions on which the CoR is working to assess specific aspects and regulations of the future EU long-term budget 2028-34: check the roadmap of the opinions.
• On 29 June, the Council of the EU reached a partial negotiating position on two key Cohesion Policy regulations for the EU budget 2028-2034, including the European Social Fund. More details.

Contact:

Matteo Miglietta
Tel: +32 470895382
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