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OPINION (COM(2025)0558 – C100172/2025 – 2025/0239(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Social Fund as part of the National and Regional Partnership Plan set out in Regulation (EU) [NRPPlan] establishing conditions for the implementation of the Union support to quality employment, skills and social inclusion for the period from 2028 to 2034

REGI-AD-785226

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Nora Mebarek

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The Committee on Regional Development gives its opinion on the proposed European Social Fund (ESF) regulation for 2028-2034, which would place the ESF inside National and Regional Partnership Plans. It proposes amendments to make the ESF an independent fund based on Articles 162 and 164 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, with its own objectives, budget and rules. It sets a financial envelope of EUR 124 190 000 000, with 15% for the Child Guarantee, 0,8% for outermost regions and dedicated envelopes for eastern border regions and just transition. It adds rules on thematic concentration, co-financing rates up to 90%, eligibility, social innovation, material deprivation, youth employment, industrial transition regions and partnership with regional and local authorities. It asks for tailored support for outermost, insular, rural and eastern border regions, and for people furthest from the labour market, including children, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities.

Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development proposes amendments to make the ESF an independent fund based on Articles 162 and 164 TFEU, with its own objectives, budget and rules, and to strengthen its territorial dimension and support for vulnerable groups and regions.

Key points

  1. The ESF should remain an autonomous instrument with its own legal basis in Articles 162 and 164 TFEU, not contingent on other instruments or economic coordination.
  2. The regulation should establish the ESF as an independent fund for 2028-2034, governed by its own rules while contributing to the general objectives of the NRP Plan Regulation.
  3. The ESF's general objective is to strengthen the social dimension of the Union and support the European Pillar of Social Rights, quality employment, equal opportunities and a skilled workforce.
  4. Specific objectives cover access to the labour market, modernising labour market institutions, education and training, social inclusion, and support for the most deprived.
  5. The financial envelope for 2028-2034 is EUR 124 190 000 000, with 15% for the Child Guarantee, 0,8% for outermost regions, and dedicated envelopes for eastern border regions and just transition.
  6. Member States must allocate at least 5% of ESF resources to the Child Guarantee, at least 10% in high child poverty countries, and at least 25% to social inclusion objectives.
  7. Co-financing rates of 90% apply to material deprivation, Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee priorities, and may be increased for disadvantaged areas.
  8. Certain costs are ineligible, including purchase of land, real estate, infrastructure, furniture, equipment and vehicles, with exceptions; ESF support is conditional on compliance with labour and social standards.
  9. Social innovation should be supported, including bottom-up approaches, testing and scaling up innovative solutions, and addressing long-term care and drug-related problems.
  10. Support for material deprivation should prioritise local products, respect dignity, include accompanying measures, and give special priority to child poverty and the Child Guarantee.
  11. Member States must support social inclusion and deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities, and youth employment must be programmed under a dedicated chapter.
  12. Member States and regions must organise multi-level governance and partnership with local authorities, social partners and civil society, and set up dedicated managing authorities and monitoring committees.

Who is affected

  • Member States and their regions, which must prepare ESF chapters, allocate resources and involve local authorities.
  • Regional and local authorities, which must be fully involved in designing, implementing and monitoring ESF actions.
  • Outermost, insular, rural and eastern border regions, which receive tailored support and higher co-financing.
  • Persons with disabilities, children, marginalised communities and people furthest from the labour market, who are target groups for ESF support.
  • Social partners, civil society organisations and NGOs, which participate in partnership and monitoring committees.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 124 190 000 000: financial envelope for the ESF for 2028 to 2034.
  • 15%: share of the envelope allocated to the Child Guarantee.
  • 0,8%: share of the envelope allocated as additional funding for outermost regions and certain NUTS level 2 regions.
  • At least 5%: share of ESF resources Member States must allocate to the Child Guarantee.
  • At least 10%: share for child poverty actions in Member States with above-average child poverty rates between 2024 and 2026.
  • At least 25%: share of ESF resources Member States must allocate to social inclusion objectives.
  • 90%: Union co-financing rate for material deprivation, Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee priorities.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034: programming period for ESF chapters.

Legal basis: Articles 162, 163, 164, 174 and 175(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and Article 349 TFEU.