Time for ambition: The EU needs a strong Social Fund to live up to its commitments
Eurochid signs a joint statement calling for a stronger EU budget, alongside broader economic, social and environmental policies.
The European Union has committed to lift at least 15 million people, of which at least 5 million children, out of poverty by 2030. This is an essential goal that can be achieved only if backed by concrete action, sufficient resources, and political ambition to enable more social cohesion and inclusion.
In 2023, an alarming 94.6 million people in Europe were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Despite marginal improvements in previous years, shockingly, nearly one in four children are trapped in this cycle. National civil society organisations are also reporting a rise in extreme forms of poverty, with more requests for food support and help with paying bills, in particular for housing and energy.
Considering the current geopolitical, security, and socio-economic context, it is essential that the EU stands firm and ensures that its social priorities are safeguarded.
Proposals to merge funding mechanisms significantly risk weakening support for key actions and programmes for labour market integration, training, and social inclusion. A stand-alone Social Fund will be key to reducing inequalities, promoting social innovation and achieving high employment levels, strengthening the Single Market and making Europe more competitive on a global scale.
With strategic use, a stronger European Social Fund can uphold human rights, strengthen social cohesion, build a better-skilled workforce, improve long-term economic sustainability, and foster productivity and innovation – ensuring thriving regions and enhancing Europe’s global competitiveness.
The next long-term EU Budget must include:
- A strengthened stand-alone European Social Fund, with increased funds, not less.
- Earmarked funding for training and jobs, social inclusion measures, and fighting child poverty including addressing basic needs across key programmes.
- A strong partnership principle, ensuring cooperation between public authorities, local organisations, social partners, social economy and civil society, well aligned to local and regional needs, to maximise impact and efficiency. This should include capacity-building programmes.
- Measures that drive quality employment and social reforms to help improve welfare systems, care, training and support services, empowering those at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This means keeping the current enabling conditions, that link eligibility for funding to accessibility, inclusion, and the protection of fundamental and social rights.
