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DRAFT 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-PA-785226

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Nora Mebarek

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The Committee on Regional Development's draft opinion proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal for a European Social Fund (ESF) regulation for 2028-2034. It seeks to keep the ESF autonomous, based on its own Treaty legal basis, and separate from the National and Regional Partnership Plan framework. It proposes a financial envelope of EUR 198 000 000 000, with EUR 20 000 000 000 for the Child Guarantee and EUR 1 000 000 000 for outermost regions, plus minimum thematic concentration requirements. It adds specific objectives covering employment, skills, education, gender equality, job insecurity, active inclusion, access to services, poverty, social dialogue and demographic challenges. It strengthens the partnership principle, requiring Member States to involve local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society organisations at all stages of the ESF cycle. It makes support for material deprivation mandatory, simplifies the definition of 'most deprived persons' and introduces social conditionality for ESF funding.

Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal to keep the ESF autonomous, secure a dedicated budget, strengthen social objectives and reinforce the partnership principle.

Key points

  1. The ESF should remain an autonomous instrument based on its own Treaty legal basis and not be conditional on other objectives or economic coordination.
  2. The ESF should keep tackling poverty and social exclusion as a main priority, particularly for children, people with disabilities, people with migrant backgrounds and marginalised communities.
  3. The ESF should support healthcare and long-term care sectors by promoting skills, better working conditions and attractiveness of occupations.
  4. The ESF should support training, retraining and lifelong learning in all regions, including those with structural challenges.
  5. Local and regional authorities should be fully involved in designing, implementing and monitoring ESF-funded actions under the principle of multi-level governance.
  6. Regions with specific constraints, such as outermost, insular or rural regions, should receive tailored support including higher co-financing rates.
  7. The ESF should provide a flexible implementation framework with integrated, personalised and long-term approaches for those furthest from the labour market.
  8. The ESF should have financial resources commensurate with social investment needs.
  9. The ESF should have a financial envelope of EUR 198 000 000 000 for 2028-2034, with EUR 20 000 000 000 for the Child Guarantee and EUR 1 000 000 000 for outermost regions.
  10. Member States should allocate at least 5% of ESF resources to the Child Guarantee, at least 30% to social inclusion objectives and at least 10% to other priorities.
  11. The ESF should support job retention measures such as short-time work schemes and access to healthcare in exceptional circumstances for up to 18 months.
  12. Member States should ensure the effective, structured and continuous involvement of local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society organisations at all stages of the ESF cycle.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must allocate minimum shares of ESF resources to social objectives and involve partners in implementation.
  • Local and regional authorities, which should be fully involved in designing, implementing and monitoring ESF actions.
  • Social partners and civil society organisations, which should participate in ESF programming and monitoring.
  • Outermost regions and regions with specific constraints, which should receive tailored support and higher co-financing rates.
  • Children and most deprived persons, who should benefit from dedicated funding and simplified access to support.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 198 000 000 000 (in 2025 prices) — financial envelope for the ESF for 2028-2034.
  • EUR 20 000 000 000 (in 2025 prices) — dedicated budget for the Child Guarantee.
  • EUR 1 000 000 000 (in 2025 prices) — additional funding for outermost regions and certain NUTS level 2 regions.
  • At least 5% of ESF resources — minimum allocation to the Child Guarantee.
  • At least 10% of ESF resources — minimum allocation for Member States with above-average child poverty rates.
  • At least 30% of ESF resources — minimum allocation to social inclusion objectives.
  • 18 months — maximum period for temporary support for short-time work schemes and healthcare access.

Legal basis: Article 162, Article 164 and Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.