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EU Parl Watch

Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/0085(COD)

European Social Fund (ESF+): specific measures to address strategic challenges

Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges

· First reading

A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.

Where it stands

Published as law

Completed: published in the Official Journal on 19 September 2025 and now EU law.

  1. Referred to committee(done) 5 May 2025
  2. Committee work(done) Report adopted 25 June 2025
  3. Tabled for plenary(done) 30 June 2025
  4. Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 4 September 2025
  5. Plenary vote(done) Adopted 10 September 2025
  6. Published as law(done) 19 September 2025

Decided in plenary

10 September 2025 · decision 1

EU budget & funds, New EU law

European Social Fund (ESF+): specific measures to address strategic challenges

Passed 453 for · 149 against · 59 abstained by a large majority

AI summary:The changes allow member states to redirect funds to new EU priorities, with incentives like higher pre-financing and co-financing rates.

Who works on it

Lead committee
Employment and Social Affairs
Marit Maij (S&D)
Maravillas Abadía Jover (EPP), Séverine Werbrouck (Patriots), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Brigitte van den Berg (Renew), Villy Søvndal (Greens), Estrella Galán (The Left)
Committees giving an opinion
  • Regional Development· rapporteurSandro Gozi (Renew)
  • Industry, Research and Energy
  • Security and Defence· rapporteurUrmas Paet (Renew)

The text, version by version

Newest first.

  1. Adopted by Parliament· 10 Sept 2025

    Adopted text TA10-0176/2025

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending the ESF+ Regulation to address strategic challenges. It lays down specific measures for member states to use ESF+ resources.

    What changed since Report A10-0122/2025 →

  2. Tabled for plenary· 30 Jun 2025

    Report A10-0122/2025

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending the ESF+ Regulation to address strategic challenges. It adjusts pre-financing, co-financing rates, and reprogramming thresholds for member states, focusing on skills for defence, civil preparedness, and decarbonisation, while safeguarding social objectives.

Committee opinions: Opinion (BUDG), Opinion (SEDE), Draft opinion (BUDG)

Timeline

Newest first.

Outcome 2 steps

  1. 19 September 2025

    Published in the Official Journal

    The act is now EU law.

  2. 18 September 2025

    Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council

    The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.

Plenary stage 4 steps

  1. 10 September 2025

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 10 Sept 2025 Adopted text TA10-0176/2025Report A10-0122/2025

  2. 10 September 2025

    30 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

    Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

    Amendments 1–30

  3. 9 September 2025

    Debated in plenary

    MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

    Sitting of 9 Sept 2025 Council / Commission text C10-0064/2025Report A10-0122/2025

  4. 5 September 2025

    6 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

    Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

    Amendment 31Amendment 32Amendment 33Amendments 34–36

Negotiations with the Council 3 steps

  1. 4 September 2025

    Committee approved the deal reached with the Council

    The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.

    EMPL-AG-775777

  2. 15 July 2025

    Trilogue meeting

    Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.

  3. 9 July 2025

    Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council

    Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).

Plenary stage 1 step

  1. 30 June 2025

    Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    Report A10-0122/2025

Committee stage 6 steps

  1. 25 June 2025

    Committee vote: report adopted

    EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  2. 25 June 2025

    Committee opinion adopted

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    REGI-AL-775396

  3. 16 June 2025

    SEDE (Security and Defence) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    Opinion (SEDE)

  4. 16 June 2025

    BUDG (Budgets) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    Opinion (BUDG)

  5. 21 May 2025

    Draft opinion from BUDG (Budgets)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

    Draft opinion (BUDG)

  6. 20 May 2025

    Amendments tabled in committee

    Members of EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.

    Amendments in committee (EMPL)

Plenary stage 1 step

  1. 7 May 2025

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 7 May 2025

Committee stage 1 step

  1. 5 May 2025

    Referred to the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; REGI (Regional Development), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy), SEDE (Security and Defence) give an opinion.

Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/0085(COD)