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REPORT (COM(2025)0164 – C100064-2025 – 2025/0085(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges

A-10-2025-0122

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Marit Maij

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending the ESF+ Regulation to address strategic challenges. It adjusts pre-financing, co-financing rates, and reprogramming thresholds for member states, focusing on skills for defence, civil preparedness, and decarbonisation, while safeguarding social objectives. The amendments lower the reprogramming threshold for additional pre-financing from 15% to 10%, increase co-financing for border regions to 95%, and extend eligibility until 2030. They also require respect for working conditions and social partner involvement. The budgetary assessment notes the proposal is budget-neutral but flags risks of frontloading payments and potential reduction in climate and social spending. It calls for safeguards and monitoring.

Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission proposal, lowering reprogramming thresholds, adjusting co-financing rates, and adding safeguards for social objectives and working conditions.

Key points

  1. Member states may reprogramme ESF+ resources to address strategic challenges, but must safeguard cohesion, create quality jobs, and preserve a level playing field.
  2. ESF+ objectives include social inclusion, cohesion, labour market activation, and delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights; reprogramming must not undermine these.
  3. Cohesion policy should not be used as an emergency response tool; safeguards must prevent dismantling core objectives.
  4. An additional one-off pre-financing of 4.5% is paid in 2026 for programme amendments reallocating at least 10% of ESF+ resources to dedicated priorities, with a lower threshold for border regions.
  5. For programmes covering NUTS2 regions bordering Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine, the pre-financing is increased to 9.5%, without a minimum reprogramming threshold.
  6. The maximum co-financing rate for priorities in programmes covering those border regions is set at 95%, not subject to a minimum reprogramming threshold.
  7. Member states may submit complementary assessments and programme amendments by 31 December 2025, with deadlines from Article 18(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 applying.
  8. Exceptional pre-financing of 30% is available for STEP-related priorities, provided smaller beneficiaries have priority access and the amendment is submitted by 31 December 2025.
  9. Dedicated priorities may support skills development in the defence industry and cyber security, prioritising dual-use capabilities and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
  10. For decarbonisation-related skilling, member states may consult social partners and support targeted training, with co-financing increased by 10 percentage points up to 100%.
  11. The Commission must publish guidelines within 60 days of the regulation's entry into force to clarify implementation and reduce administrative burden.
  12. The budgetary assessment calls for monitoring of payment frontloading, protection of climate and social objectives, and rigorous enforcement of conditionality.

Who is affected

  • Member states managing ESF+ programmes, especially those with NUTS2 regions bordering Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine, which can access higher pre-financing and co-financing.
  • Beneficiaries in defence, cyber security, and decarbonisation sectors, with priority access for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
  • Social partners, who must be consulted and involved in programme amendments for dedicated priorities.
  • Managing authorities, which receive guidelines to ease implementation.

Figures and deadlines

  • 4.5% additional one-off pre-financing in 2026 for programme amendments.
  • 9.5% pre-financing for programmes covering NUTS2 regions bordering Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine.
  • 10% minimum reallocation threshold for additional pre-financing.
  • 95% maximum co-financing rate for border region programmes.
  • 31 December 2025 deadline for submitting programme amendments.
  • 30% exceptional pre-financing for STEP-related priorities.
  • 60 days for the Commission to publish guidelines.
  • EUR 376,000 per year in 2025, 2026, and 2027 for additional human resources.

Legal basis: Articles 164, 175, 177, and 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union