CECOP, together with 45 prominent European networks, has co-signed the Joint Statement “Keep what works: 8 success factors for a future ESF+” launched by the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD). 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.

Signatories:

European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)

European Network of Social Integrations Enterprises (ENSIE)

Social Services Europe (SSE)

Social Economy Europe (SEE)

Social Platform

European Public Service Union (EPSU)

Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP)

Association de Recherche et de Formation sur l’Insertion en Europe (ARFIE)           

Autism-Europe (AE)  

CEC - Acting for Social Inclusion     

CECOP - European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives 

COFACE Families Europe     

Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives and Cooperatives (CEFEC)           

Diesis Network           

EAPN - European Anti-Poverty Network      

Eurocarers     

Eurochild        

Eurodiaconia

European Ageing Network (EAN)     

European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)             

European council for non-profit organisations (Comité européen des associations d’intérêt général - CEDAG)          

European Disability Forum (EDF)    

European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA)             

European Microfinance Network (EMN)     

European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES)           

European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR)             

European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network       

European Students’ Union (ESU)     

European Youth Forum          

FEBEA - European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers      

Inclusion Europe        

Lumos

Make Mothers Matter (MMM)            

Microfinance Centre (MFC) 

Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)      

RREUSE - Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises    

Samaritan International        

SOLIDAR

 

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