Autism-Europe joined The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and 44 prominent European networks’ call for a strong European Social Fund+.
Together, we have co-signed the Joint Statement “Keep what works: 8 success factors for a future ESF+”. This comes ahead of upcoming proposals by the European Commission on the next EU long-term budget.
On 16 July, the European Commission is expected to launch both overarching and programme-specific proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post 2027. This moment will formally mark the start of negotiations.
Recent leaks of the European Commission’s intentions have raised significant concerns that Programmes such as the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) will be removed, merged or weakened.
The statement highlights eight primary success factors of the European Social Fund+ and advocates for its inclusion in the European Commission’s forthcoming proposals. These success factors include:
- Guaranteed funding for employment, training & social initiatives
- Multi-level governance, through shared management between the EU and its regions
- Earmarking for social inclusion, to ensure funding also reaches the most excluded
- Simplification and flexibility for end-beneficiaries, to make EU Funds more attractive
- Enabling conditions, to align funds with international legal frameworks
- The partnership principle, to ensure EU funds meet local needs
- Funding for local initiatives, instead of solely large-scale projects
- Focus on long-term priorities and reforms, rather than short-term investments only.