On the European Social Fund Plus post-2027
EMPL-PR-765062
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Marit Maij
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This draft report sets out Parliament's position on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) after 2027, calling for a strong, standalone fund with doubled funding and specific allocations for social inclusion, child guarantee, housing, and youth.¶¶¶ It insists on targeting the most disadvantaged, integrating horizontal principles, and ensuring participation of social partners and civil society, while simplifying access and maintaining shared management.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution calling for a strong, standalone ESF+ with doubled funding, specific allocations for social priorities, and safeguards against merging with other funds.¶¶¶
Key points
- Insists that the ESF+ must remain the key instrument for supporting Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Union.¶
- Calls for a strong, reinforced, stand-alone ESF+ with significantly increased public support and doubled funding post-2027.¶
- Expresses concerns over splitting or merging ESF+ with other funds, warning it would risk implementation of objectives and EPSR targets.¶
- Calls for participation of social partners, civil society organisations and target group representatives in all stages, with adequate funding and prevention of exclusion of smaller actors.¶
- Calls for a comprehensive, stable and large-scale needs- and rights-based budget for ESF+ in the next multiannual financial framework.¶
- Stresses that ESF+ should not be used for emergencies; calls for a social rescue facility and an EU unemployment reinsurance scheme.¶
- Insists that ESF+ targets the most disadvantaged, including Roma, people with disabilities, homeless, children, elderly, and all family types.¶
- Calls for including in specific objectives the just transition, integration of migrants, social inclusion of women victims of gender-based violence, and integration of older people.¶
- Repeats demand for a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee and that Member States allocate at least 5% of ESF+ resources to it, 10% for those with higher child poverty.¶
- Urges raising earmarking for social inclusion beyond 25% and for food aid to 5%, and insists Member States invest at least 5% of ESF+ resources into tackling homelessness.¶¶
- Calls for increased earmarking for Youth Guarantee to at least 15% for all Member States and a ban on unpaid traineeships.¶
- Calls for reduced administrative burden, simplified application and reporting, while maintaining shared management, transparency and accountability.¶
Who is affected
- Member States: must allocate minimum percentages of ESF+ resources to child guarantee, homelessness, and youth guarantee, and ensure participation of social partners.¶¶¶
- Social partners and civil society organisations: to be involved in design and implementation, with access to funding and increased co-financing rates.¶¶¶
- Vulnerable groups including Roma, people with disabilities, homeless, children, elderly, migrants, and women: targeted for support.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee¶
- at least 5 % of ESF+ resources to the European Child Guarantee
- at least 10 % for Member States with higher child poverty
- beyond the current 25 % for social inclusion¶
- 5 % for food aid and basic material assistance
- at least 5 % of ESF+ resources into tackling homelessness¶
- at least 15 % of ESF+ resources for Youth Guarantee¶
- at least 90 % co-financing for CSOs, at least 70 % for social enterprises¶
Legal basis: Articles 46(d), 149, 153(2)(a), 164, 175 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶