opinion parliamentary committee, 9 June 2026
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
Document CULT-AD-785225 · (COM(2025)0558 – C100172/2025 – 2025/0239(COD))
Committee on Culture and Education · Rapporteur: Isilda Gomes
AI:In short
The Committee on Culture and Education proposes amendments to the proposed regulation establishing the European Social Fund for 2028 to 2034. It adds education, training, skills, culture, sport and youth themes to the fund's objectives and recitals. The amendments set new ESF specific objectives covering employment, education and training quality, teachers, basic and transversal skills, social inclusion through culture and sport, and digitalisation in cultural sectors. They require member states to allocate at least 28% of the ESF through a three-tier structure and at least 3% to culture-based social integration actions. They add new articles on synergies with Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee and the AgoraEU programme, and require structured participation of social partners and civil society.
Position. The Committee on Culture and Education proposes amendments to the lead Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, adding education, training, skills, culture, sport and youth themes to the ESF regulation's recitals and objectives, and setting allocation requirements for skills and culture.
Key points
- Recital 1 is amended to add education, training, skills, basic skills and measures against early leaving from education or training to the ESF's policy areas.
- Recital 2 adds training, skills and sport to the employment guidelines and aligns the ESF 2028-2034 scope with the Council's employment guidelines.
- Recital 3 adds partnership with national, regional and local authorities, civil society, education providers, youth organisations, cultural operators and grassroots sports organisations, and cites the Council Recommendation on human capital.
- Recitals 4 to 6 add declining learning outcomes, teacher shortages, unequal access to education, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, non-standard work, NEETs and support for entrepreneurship to the challenges the ESF addresses.
- New recitals 7a and 7b recognise cultural and creative competences as transversal skills and call for ESF support for cultural and creative professionals' skills, working conditions, social protection and gender equality.
- Recitals 9, 9a and 11 to 13 add basic skills, digital literacy in cultural, creative and educational sectors, synergies with Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee and AgoraEU, and monitoring and stakeholder involvement in implementation.
- Recitals 13 to 17 add validation and recognition of skills, lifelong guidance, youth employment, cultural and creative education, community-based learning, transparency of ESF resources and culture and sport as social inclusion tools.
- Recitals 17 to 25 add respect of Union values by beneficiaries, equity across member states, access to cultural, educational and recreational opportunities for children, and youth employment and education resources.
- Recital 23 requires member states to ensure meaningful and inclusive participation of local and regional social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and local authorities in ESF programming, management, monitoring, implementation and evaluation.
- Article 2 is replaced with six new specific objectives: employment access, education and training quality, teachers and trainers, basic and transversal skills, social inclusion through culture and sport, and digitalisation in cultural and creative sectors.
- Member states must allocate at least 28% of the ESF through three tiers: at least 15% for foundational skills, at least 8% for adult upskilling with at least 40 hours of annual certified training, and the remainder for flexible regional priorities.
- Member states must allocate at least 3% of their shared-management ESF resources to culture-based social integration, and new articles require synergies with Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee and AgoraEU and structured social partner participation.
Who is affected
- Member states, which must allocate at least 28% of the ESF through three tiers and at least 3% to culture-based social integration.
- Cultural and creative professionals, who would gain ESF support for skills, working conditions, social protection and collective bargaining.
- Teachers, trainers and educators, who would benefit from measures on attractiveness, recognition, working conditions and retention.
- Young people, including NEETs, who would gain employment, education, training and Youth Guarantee support.
- Social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and local authorities, which must be involved in ESF programming, management, monitoring, implementation and evaluation.
Figures and deadlines
- At least 78% of the population aged 20-64 in employment by 2030, cited as a Union headline target.
- At least 60% of all adults participating in training every year, cited as a Union headline target.
- At least 15 million fewer people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including 5 million children, cited as a Union headline target.
- Approximately 1 million fewer persons each year in the Union labour market between now and 2040.
- At least 28% of the ESF to be implemented through a progressive three-tier structure.
- Tier 1 – Foundational Skills: minimum 15%.
- Tier 2 – Adult Upskilling: minimum 8%, including at least 40 hours of annual certified training.
- At least 3% of member states' resources under the ESF strand under shared management for culture-based social integration.
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 25 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
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Text 170 paragraphs
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Culture and Education submits the following to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund (ESF). On 4 March 2021, the Commission put forward an Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (the ‘Action Plan’), including ambitious yet realistic Union headline targets for 2030 on employment (that at least 78 % of the population aged 20-64 should be in employment), skills (that at least 60 % of all adults should participate in training every year) and poverty reduction (that at least 15 million fewer people should be at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including 5 million children) (the ‘Union headline targets for 2030’) and complementary sub-targets, as well as a revised Social Scoreboard. In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF should support investments in people and reforms of the systems in the policy areas of employment, education and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty. | (1) On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund (ESF). On 4 March 2021, the Commission put forward an Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (the ‘Action Plan’), including ambitious yet realistic Union headline targets for 2030 on employment (that at least 78 % of the population aged 20-64 should be in employment), skills (that at least 60 % of all adults should participate in training every year) and poverty reduction (that at least 15 million fewer people should be at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including 5 million children) (the ‘Union headline targets for 2030’) and complementary sub-targets, as well as a revised Social Scoreboard. In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF should support investments in people and reforms of the systems in the policy areas of employment, education, training, skills, including basic skills, measures to prevent early leaving from education or training, and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty. |
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as provided for in Article 148(2) of the Treaty, adopted annually by the Council in the context of the European Semester, are a key instrument for coordination of Union and national employment and social policies. They provide common priorities and targets for employment, education, skills and social policies with a view to improving the Union’s competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. The ESF is the Union’s main instrument for supporting the employment guidelines and achieving Union objectives in employment and social policies. The employment guidelines complement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In this context, the scope of the ESF for 2028 to 2034 should be fully aligned with Council Decision (EU) …1 [Employment guidelines adopted by the Council at the latest by 1 January 2027]. | (2) The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as provided for in Article 148(2) of the Treaty, adopted annually by the Council in the context of the European Semester, are a key instrument for coordination of Union and national employment and social policies. They provide common priorities and targets for employment, education, training, skills, social policies and sport with a view to improving the Union’s competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. The ESF is the Union’s main instrument for supporting the employment guidelines and achieving Union objectives in employment and social policies. The employment guidelines complement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In this context, the scope of the ESF for 2028 to 2034 should be fully aligned with Council Decision (EU) …1 [Employment guidelines adopted by the Council at the latest by 1 January 2027]. |
| 1 Insert publication reference | 1 Insert publication reference |
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Read the rest (158 paragraphs)
Recital 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States should submit annual progress reports on the implementation of their medium-term fiscal-structural plans. That framework should be the basis for the use of Union funding in a coherent manner, including with a view to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received. | (3) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States should submit annual progress reports on the implementation of their medium-term fiscal-structural plans. That framework should be the basis for the use of Union funding in a coherent manner, including with a view to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received. The framework should be developed in partnership between national, regional and local authorities, and ensure effective access for civil society, including local actors, education providers, youth organisations, cultural operators and grassroots sports organisations. In addition, it should take into account the Council Recommendation C/2026/16871a, which underscores the importance of human capital – the knowledge, skills, experience, education and training that help people to achieve their professional or personal goals – as key to the Union’s competitive strength and economic resilience. The European Semester also offers great opportunities to the cultural and creative sector, notably to improve skills and working conditions of artists and cultural professionals. |
| 1a Council Recommendation C/2026/1687 of 9 March 2026 on human capital in the European Union (OJ C, C/2026/1687, 13.3.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/1687/oj). |
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, vulnerable supply chains, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, the clean energy transition, technological change and demographic change, an ageing workforce, lack of social housing, and growing skills and labour shortages in many sectors and regions. | (4) The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, vulnerable supply chains, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, the clean energy transition, technological change, demographic and societal change, an ageing workforce, lack of social housing, lack of job opportunities and an increase in socio-economic insecurity for young people, including in the cultural sector, and persistent skills mismatches and labour shortages in many sectors and regions. In parallel, the Union faces declining learning outcomes, persistent shortages of qualified teachers, and unequal access to quality education and training, particularly for learners from disadvantaged, rural or marginalised backgrounds. The ESF should therefore also support targeted investments in basic skills, upskilling pathways and transversal cultural skills, and measures aiming to enhance the valorisation of teaching professions. |
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) Taking into account the changing realities in the world of work, the Union should be prepared for current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, by making growth more inclusive and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility and sectoral restructuring, paying attention to urban and rural areas that face particular social weaknesses . | (5) Taking into account the changing realities in the world of work, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, technological change and the expansion of non-standard forms of work, the Union should be prepared for current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, prioritising educational, vocational and training systems, upskilling and reskilling as well as by making growth more inclusive and by improving employment, education, training and social policies, including in view of labour mobility and sectoral restructuring. Particular attention should be paid to urban, rural, mountainous and remote areas facing persistent social weaknesses, and to sectors marked by project-based, freelance or otherwise precarious forms of work, including the cultural and creative sectors, in order to support fair transitions, equal access to upskilling and reskilling opportunities and adequate social protection. |
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6) Between now and 2040, the Union labour market will comprise approximately 1 million fewer persons each year. Furthermore, in addition to a shrinking workforce, some regions are affected by a small and stagnant share of the population with tertiary education, making it difficult to compensate for the loss of labour through higher labour productivity. This will increase pressure on the social welfare model of the Union, putting its sustainability and adequacy under pressure. It will also increase labour and skills shortages in the labour market, putting strain on economic growth and competitiveness. For some sectors this will lead to labour cost pressures. This is why the ESF needs to support an increase in participation in the labour market, especially of women and young people, persons with disabilities, Roma communities and to support employers in finding the right people for available jobs, empower older workers with appropriate labour market and workplace measures, ensure a skilled workforce able to tackle major societal challenges, and support a healthy work life balance including by ensuring access to quality childcare. | (6) Between now and 2040, the Union labour market will comprise approximately 1 million fewer persons each year. Furthermore, in addition to a shrinking workforce, some regions are affected by a small and stagnant share of the population with tertiary education, making it difficult to compensate for the loss of labour through higher labour productivity. Coupled with the rate of people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) in the Union, with its geographic disparity, and the unequal access to quality education and training, and lifelong learning, this will increase pressure on the social welfare model of the Union, putting its sustainability and adequacy under pressure. It will also increase labour and skills shortages in the labour market, putting strain on economic growth and competitiveness. For some sectors this will lead to labour cost pressures. This is why the ESF needs to support an increase in participation in the labour market, especially of women and young people, persons with disabilities, Roma communities, other minorities, and other people with fewer opportunities, and to support and encourage entrepreneurship, especially among young people. The ESF should also support employers in finding the right people for available jobs, empower older workers, including through the enhancement of basic skills, such as AI literacy, digital competences, practical life skills, as well as through upskilling and reskilling measures, with appropriate labour market and workplace measures, ensure a skilled workforce able to tackle major societal challenges, and support a healthy work life balance, notably through sport, including by ensuring access to quality childcare and equal access to affordable, inclusive and non-segregated quality education. |
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7) On 29 January 2025, the Commission presented the Competitiveness Compass. The Compass sets a path for Europe to become the place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured, and put on the market, while being the first continent to become climate neutral. It recognises five horizontal enablers for competitiveness, including promoting skills and quality jobs, and highlights that the foundation of Europe’s competitiveness is its people. To be competitive and prepared for the future, the Union needs to support and prepare its people with the skills and competences needed for success in learning, work, and life. | (7) On 29 January 2025, the Commission presented the Competitiveness Compass. The Compass sets a path for Europe to become the place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured, and put on the market, while being the first continent to become climate neutral. It recognises five horizontal enablers for competitiveness, including promoting skills and quality jobs, and highlights that the foundation of Europe’s competitiveness is its people. To be competitive and prepared for the future, the Union needs to support and prepare its people with the skills and competences needed for success in learning, work, and life, such as cultural awareness and expression skills, digital and media skills, transversal skills, language skills and citizenship skills. |
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7a) In its Communication of 12 November 2025 entitled ‘A Culture Compass for Europe’, the Commission presented a strategic framework recognising cultural and creative competences as transversal skills contributing to employability, innovation, social cohesion, democratic resilience and Europe’s competitiveness. Complementing the Competitiveness Compass and Union of Skills, it underlines the need to address skills gaps, support artists and cultural professionals, improve their working conditions, strengthen access to culture and integrate culture and cultural heritage into education, training and skills policies. |
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7b) Culture is a fundamental public good and a driver of economic and social development, social inclusion, democratic participation and social cohesion, while also contributing to democratic resilience and to the promotion and preservation of European cultural and linguistic diversity. The cultural and creative sectors contribute significantly to employment, innovation and regional and local development, yet remain characterised by structural precariousness. Within its scope, the ESF should support skills development, training, freedom of association and collective bargaining, social protection, social inclusion and fair working conditions, safe workplaces, gender equality and inclusion for cultural and creative professionals, in complementarity with the AgoraEU programme and national measures. Special attention should be paid to the cultural industries that are at the highest risk of negative shocks and job loss. Cultural heritage, including its protection and preservation, should also be included, as it provides innovative and effective solutions to cross-cutting issues such as education, health, gender equality and women’s empowerment, the prevention of gender-based violence, technological change and environmental challenges. |
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8) In addition, on 26 February 2025 the Commission adopted the Communication “The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation”. It is vital to recognise the critical role of skills in facilitating a successful transition to a cleaner and more competitive industrial future within the Union. Developing a highly skilled workforce is essential for driving innovation and advancing decarbonisation and circularity across vital industries. This focus on skill enhancement is crucial for achieving the Union’s objectives of a just transition and for sustaining and enhancing the Union’s global competitiveness. Furthermore, access to environmental resources and their benefits is unequally distributed across society, as are environmental hazards and health risks. It is more likely to fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups. | (8) In addition, on 26 February 2025 the Commission adopted the Communication “The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation”. It is vital to recognise the critical role of skills in facilitating a successful transition to a cleaner and more competitive industrial future within the Union. Developing a highly skilled workforce should also include targeted support for regions and sectors with skill gaps, practical upskilling for youth and measures to strengthen innovation and advance decarbonisation and circularity across vital industries. This focus on skill enhancement is crucial for achieving the Union’s objectives of a just transition and for sustaining and enhancing the Union’s global competitiveness. Furthermore, access to environmental resources and their benefits is unequally distributed across society, as are environmental hazards and health risks. It is more likely to fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups. |
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9) The Union of Skills aims to support the development of quality, inclusive and adaptable education, training and skills systems to increase the Union’s competitiveness, preparedness, security and democracy. Therefore, in line with the Union of Skills, the Union should ensure sufficient funding to build solid skills foundations and promote lifelong and future-oriented upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, in particular to address the challenges of the digital and green transitions. This will contribute to notably digital skills and key enabling technologies but also , skills to support emerging sectors, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technologically and innovation-driven changes, social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled or poorly qualified adults. In line with the Union of Skills, the challenges of the digital and green transitions need to be addressed by upskilling and reskilling workers, aligning education with industry needs, and fostering partnerships among educational institutions, employers, and public authorities. It is also necessary to enhance circulation and adequate allocation of skills in the internal market, including through easier skills portability, and be able to attract and retain skills in the EU. | (9) The Union of Skills aims to support the development of high quality, inclusive, accessible and adaptable education, training and skills systems to increase the Union’s competitiveness, preparedness, security and democracy. Therefore, in line with the Union of Skills, the Union should ensure sufficient funding to build solid education and skills foundations starting with basic skills for children, youth and adults, and promote lifelong and future-oriented upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, in particular to address the challenges of the digital and green transitions, including digital literacy in cultural, creative and educational sectors. This will contribute to notably digital skills and key enabling technologies but also, skills to support emerging sectors, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technologically and innovation-driven changes, social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled or poorly qualified adults with measurable pathways aligned to labour market needs. In line with the Union of Skills, the challenges of the digital and green transitions need to be addressed by upskilling and reskilling workers, aligning education with industry and societal needs, and fostering partnerships among educational institutions, employers, and public authorities. It is also necessary to enhance circulation and adequate allocation of skills in the internal market, including through easier skills portability and automatic recognition of qualifications and degrees, but also by supporting validation and recognition for prior learning, and nonformal and informal learning. It is also necessary to be able to attract and retain skills in the EU. Furthermore, there is a need to improve tertiary education outcomes, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and to increase the capacity, relevance and attractiveness of STEM programmes for young people. It is also essential to ensure sufficient incentives and other mechanisms for the attractiveness and valorisation of the teaching profession. |
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9a) Stronger synergies between the ESF and other relevant Union programmes, in particular Erasmus+ programme, the reinforced Youth Guarantee and AgoraEU programme, are essential to reinforce the Union’s action in education, training, youth employment, social inclusion and democratic participation. Such complementarities should help widen access to opportunities, strengthen civic, cultural and transversal competences, and address inequalities that continue to limit the full participation of people in vulnerable situations in education, employment and democratic life. Furthermore, synergies between the ESF and Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund should also be explored. |
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10) Regulation (EU) [NRP Regulation] establishes the general rules on the National Regional Partnership Plan (the ‘NRP Plan’) and lays down, in particular, the objectives to be supported by the National Regional Partnership Plans and the rules concerning the preparation, implementation, management and control of such Plans. The ESF is one of the nationally pre-allocated funds grouped under the National Regional Partnership Plan, in accordance with Regulation (EU) [...] [NRP Plan Regulation. It is therefore necessary to clarify the scope of support of the ESF in relation to the objectives set out in the NRP Regulation and lay down specific provisions concerning the implementation of the ESF. | deleted |
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (11) Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the NRP Plan, including the ESF, depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society organisations. | (11) Efficient and effective implementation and monitoring of actions supported by the NRP Plan, including the ESF, depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society organisations. |
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (12) In order to strengthen Europe’s societies and Europe’s Social model, Member States should allocate a minimum amount of resources under their National and Regional Partnership Plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation] to the ESF. The diverse nature and severity of different socio-economic challenges in Member States requires a more flexible approach to programming. Whilst a minimum level of support for social policies is necessary to ensure action commensurate to these challenges, it also needs to be closely corresponding to the national and regional characteristics. The underlying sources of social disparities or problems need to inform the relative importance given to investments and reforms within the realm of the Employment Guidelines and the ESF. This implies that policy safeguards through thematic concentration should result from engagement between Member States and the Commission. The minimum amount of ESF must also find the balance between the strategic interest the Union has in investing in its people, and thereby in the quality of labour supply as well as social progress, and at the same time investment needs covered by other specific objectives enlisted in article 3 of the [NRP Plan Regulation]. | (12) In order to strengthen Europe’s societies and Europe’s Social model, Member States should allocate a minimum amount of resources under their National and Regional Partnership Plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation] to the ESF. The diverse nature and severity of different socio-economic challenges in Member States requires a more flexible approach to programming that includes stakeholders. Whilst a minimum level of support for social policies is necessary to ensure action commensurate to these challenges, it also needs to be closely corresponding to the national and regional characteristics, ensuring that measures are adapted to those characteristics, particularly for disadvantaged areas and vulnerable groups. The underlying sources of social disparities or problems need to inform the relative importance given to investments and reforms within the realm of the Employment Guidelines and the ESF. This implies that policy safeguards through thematic concentration should result from engagement between Member States, and the Commission. The ESF must also find the balance between the strategic interest the Union has in investing in its people and social progress. Therefore, the ESF should ensure appropriate support for measures related to education and training under a three-tier structure of foundational skills, adult upskilling and flexible regional priorities. |
Amendment 16
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13) The ESF should support employment, equal access for all to the labour market, fair and quality working conditions and labour mobility. The ESF should support Member States in providing support to unemployed and inactive people with effective, timely, coordinated and tailor-made assistance based on support for job searches, training, up- and reskilling and access to other enabling services, paying particular attention to people in vulnerable situations and people negatively affected by the green and digital transitions or labour market shocks, as well as those furthest away from the labour market. The ESF should continue to focus on youth unemployment and the issue of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) through the prevention of early leaving from education and training, and structural improvement of the school-to-work transition, including through the full implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee, which should also support quality youth employment opportunities. In addition, the ESF should continue to invest in skills crucial for the green and digital transitions. | (13) The ESF should support employment, equal access for all to the labour market, fair and quality working conditions and labour mobility. The ESF should support Member States in providing support to unemployed and inactive people with effective, timely, coordinated and tailor-made assistance based on support for job searches, training, up- and reskilling and access to other enabling services, including validation and recognition of skills and lifelong guidance, paying particular attention to young people, people in vulnerable situations and people negatively affected by the green and digital transitions or labour market shocks, as well as those furthest away from the labour market. The ESF should continue to focus on youth unemployment and the issue of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) through the prevention of early leaving from education and training and social exclusion, structural improvement of the school-to-quality employment transition, including through quality education, training and reintegration pathways, in coherence with the European Youth Strategy and the full implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee, which should also support quality youth employment opportunities. Therefore, Member States should allocate resources of the ESF to support the employment, education and training of NEETs, including through prevention of early school drop-out, apprenticeships, traineeships and wage for first work experience, as well as the transition from education to work, career guidance and promoting quality working conditions. In addition, the ESF should continue to invest in skills crucial for the green and digital transitions. |
Amendment 17
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14) The ESF should enhance labour supply and improve education and training and lifelong acquisition of skills. In particular, the ESF should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning that takes place at all stages in life and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications. | (14) The ESF should enhance labour supply and improve education and training and lifelong acquisition of skills. In particular, the ESF should help progression within education and training, including access to cultural and creative education, transition to work, support lifelong learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning that takes place at all stages in life, support the validation and recognition of that learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of non-formal and informal learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications. Lifelong learning also takes place beyond formal classrooms, such as in cultural centres, libraries, museums, youth organisations and other community-based settings, helping to build basic and transversal skills, widen cultural participation, support intergenerational learning and encourage active citizenship. The ESF should therefore be able, within its scope, to support partnerships involving those actors. |
Amendment 18
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (15) The ESF should facilitate access to services, including the strengthening of the modernisation, digitalisation and the resilience of both healthcare and long-term care services. The ESF should support Member States in implementing measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for all, and in particular for groups that are under-represented in the labour market, ensuring equal access to services. The availability of affordable, sustainable and high-quality services such as early childhood education and care, out-of-school care, education, training, and health and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services, is a necessary condition for ensuring equal opportunities and labour mobility. The ESF should ensure that everyone, including children in line with the European Child Guarantee, have access to essential services of good quality. The specific needs of persons with disabilities, including accessibility, should be taken into account in relation to those services as well as independent living. The ESF should also contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility. | (15) The ESF should facilitate access to services, including the strengthening of the modernisation, digitalisation and the resilience of both healthcare and long-term care services. The ESF should support Member States in implementing measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and poverty and ensure equal opportunities and access to formal and non-formal quality education and training for all, and in particular for groups that are under-represented in the labour market, ensuring equal access to services, including community-based cultural, sport and youth services, and quality education and training. The availability of affordable, sustainable and high-quality services such as early childhood education and care, out-of-school care, education, training, and health and long-term care, in particular family and community-based lifelong learning and care services, is a necessary condition for ensuring equal opportunities and labour mobility. The ESF should ensure that everyone, including children in line with the European Child Guarantee, have access to essential services of good quality and opportunities for cultural and educational participation. The specific needs of persons with disabilities, including accessibility, should be taken into account in relation to those services as well as independent living. The ESF should also contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility. |
Amendment 19
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (15a) Member States and the Commission should ensure full transparency and accountability in the allocation and management of ESF resources, project results, and use of funds, in order to reinforce trust and effectiveness of Union investments. |
Amendment 20
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (16) Support through the ESF should be used to promote equal opportunities for all, to support strong social safety nets, foster social inclusion, intergenerational fairness and fight poverty. The ESF should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty, including by addressing material deprivation, with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children in poverty, marginalised communities such as the Roma, the working poor and the most deprived. The ESF should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF should also tackle homelessness, including with prevention and alleviation measures in line with the Lisbon declaration of 2021. Support to social innovation plays an important role in achieving these objectives and should therefore be promoted. | (16) Support through the ESF should be used to promote equal opportunities for all, to support strong social safety nets, foster social inclusion, intergenerational fairness and fight poverty. The ESF should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty, including by addressing material deprivation, with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children in poverty, marginalised communities such as the Roma and other minorities, the working poor and the most deprived. The ESF should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration, in particular through education, culture and sports. The potential of culture and sport as tools for social inclusion should be fully recognised and further exploited. The ESF should also tackle homelessness, including with prevention and alleviation measures in line with the Lisbon declaration of 2021. Support to social innovation plays an important role in achieving these objectives and should therefore be promoted. |
Amendment 21
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (17) The principles of democracy, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights are fundamental values of the Union. These values are fundamental for every single person, especially for those who are most vulnerable. Furthermore, they are instrumental for the effective implementation of the ESF. Therefore, the ESF should also support the promotion and implementation of these values for all. The ESF will also continue to address the rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will also ensure coherence with the Union of Equality and its related Strategies1 that aim at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and ensure social cohesion by sustaining and developing open, fundamental rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. | (17) The principles of democracy, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights are fundamental values of the Union. These values are fundamental for every single person, especially for those who are most vulnerable. Furthermore, they are instrumental for the effective implementation of the ESF. Therefore, the ESF should also support the promotion and implementation of these values for all. The ESF will also continue to address the rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will also ensure coherence with the Union of Equality and its related Strategies1 that aim at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and ensure social cohesion by sustaining and developing open, fundamental rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. Organisations and managing authorities should ensure the respect of the above-mentioned values by the beneficiaries. |
Amendment 22
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (18) Regulation (EU) [National Plan Regulation] requires that Member States respect horizontal principles in the preparation and implementation of the national and regional partnership plans. In this context, Member States should also be encouraged to use the ESF to supports targeted actions to promote horizontal principles such as the promotion of gender equality and ensuring the accessibility of services for people with disabilities and to enable people with disabilities to actively participate. | Regulation (EU) [National Plan Regulation] requires that Member States respect horizontal principles in the preparation and implementation of the national and regional partnership plans. In this context, Member States should also use the ESF to support targeted actions to promote horizontal principles such as the promotion of gender equality and ensuring the accessibility of services for people with disabilities and to enable people with disabilities to actively participate and ensure equity across the Member States. |
Amendment 23
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (20) Due to the particular need to support children in poverty Member States should also programme resources of the ESF to address the measures under the Child Guarantee. | (20) Due to the particular need to support children in poverty Member States should also programme resources of the ESF to address the measures under the European Child Guarantee, including access to quality cultural, educational and recreational opportunities for children in all regions, especially mountainous, remote or disadvantaged areas, that contribute to the realisation of children’s rights, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. |
Amendment 24
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (22) In light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF towards measures to promote youth employment, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee. Member States should therefore allocate an appropriate amount of resources to this challenge. Member States seriously affected by youth unemployment should allocate resources of the ESF to support youth employability. | (22) In light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF towards measures to promote youth employment and education and training opportunities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in line with Council Recommendation 2020/C 372/011a. Member States should therefore allocate an appropriate amount of resources to this challenge. Member States seriously affected by youth unemployment should allocate resources of the ESF to support youth employability. |
| 1a Council Recommendation 2020/C 372/01 of 30 October 2020 on A Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee and replacing the Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee (OJ C 372, 4.11.2020, p. 1). |
Amendment 25
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (23) Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society. It is therefore essential that Member States encourage the participation of social partners and civil society in the implementation of the ESF. Member States that have received a country-specific recommendation in this area should allocate resources of the ESF to promote the capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations. | (23) Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society, including youth organisations. It is therefore essential that Member States ensure the meaningful and inclusive participation of local and regional social partners and civil society organisations in the programming, management, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of activities and policies supported by the ESF. Member States that have received a country-specific recommendation in this area should allocate resources of the ESF to promote the capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations, and local authorities. |
Amendment 26
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (25) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely enhancing the effectiveness of labour markets and promoting access to quality employment, improving access to and the quality of education and training, promoting social inclusion and health and reducing poverty cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective | (25) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely enhancing the effectiveness of labour markets and promoting fair and inclusive societies and access to quality employment, improving equal access to and the quality of education and training for all, promoting social inclusion and health, reducing poverty and contributing to the fulfilment of the commitment of the Union and its Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. |
Amendment 27
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) The European Social Fund (ESF) shall support the specific objectives set out in Article 3 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan Regulation]. | (1) The European Social Fund (ESF) shall support the following specific objectives: |
Amendment 28
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) enhancing access to quality employment and activation measures for all jobseekers, especially young people, as well as long-term unemployed, inactive persons and disadvantaged groups, while promoting self-employment, the social economy and youth participation in democratic life; |
Amendment 29
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) improving the quality, inclusiveness and effectiveness of education and training systems, fostering upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, with a particular focus on people with fewer opportunities, and supporting actions in the fields of quality and inclusive education, training, lifelong learning and investment in children, young people, vulnerable groups and their families, ensuring equal access and completion at all levels – from early childhood education and care to tertiary and adult learning – while promoting learning mobility, learner-centred approaches, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and the validation and recognition of non-formal and informal learning, including through innovative measures contributing to social inclusion, equal opportunities, democratic participation, quality employment and competitiveness, and addressing precarious work among young people; |
Amendment 30
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) strengthening the attractiveness, recognition and working conditions of teachers, trainers and educators, including through initial and continuous professional development, support for digital, green and inclusive pedagogies, mobility opportunities, and measures aimed at addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher retention; |
Amendment 31
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) supporting the development and acquisition of basic skills, key competences and transversal skills, including critical and digital skills, digital and media literacy, artificial intelligence literacy - including enhancing understanding of algorithmic systems and artificial intelligence and their impact on access to information, learning and work - as well as critical thinking, citizenship, financial literacy, STEM, intercultural, artistic and creative skills, as well as entrepreneurial competences, thereby strengthening the full inclusion of the beneficiaries in society and the labour market; |
Amendment 32
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e) fostering social inclusion through culture, sport and physical activity, while supporting cultural participation and the role of culture in social cohesion, education, innovation and sustainable development; |
Amendment 33
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point f (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f) supporting the development of skills and other measures addressing the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in the cultural and creative sectors, while ensuring fair working conditions, access to social protection, and collective bargaining; |
Amendment 34
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) For the purpose of paragraph 1, Member States use of the ESF shall, for the purposes of Article 2, point (b) of Regulation XX [NRP Plan], be based on the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as provided for in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty, set out in the Decision (EU) xxxx [Employment guidelines adopted by the Council at the latest by 1 January 2027]. | deleted |
Amendment 35
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2a) Member States shall allocate at least 28% of the ESF to be implemented through a progressive three-tier structure, ensuring measurable skills development across the Union: | |
| (a) Tier 1 – Foundational Skills (minimum 15%): investment in basic skills, such as literacy, numeracy and digital skills, as well as youth transitions, including measures against early leaving from education and training and facilitating school-to-work transitions, building on established youth priorities; | |
| (b) Tier 2 – Adult Upskilling (minimum 8%): support for adult learning, including providing at least 40 hours of annual certified training aligned with labour market needs, and promoting inclusive access to lifelong learning opportunities; | |
| (c) Tier 3 – Flexible Regional Priorities (remaining allocation): adaptation to regional and local needs, including green and digital transitions, industrial transformation, artificial intelligence, competitiveness and dual vocational education and training systems. | |
| Progress in the implementation of that structure shall be monitored through appropriate performance and reporting mechanisms. |
Amendment 36
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2b) Member States shall allocate at least 3% of their resources under the ESF strand under shared management to support targeted actions aimed at fostering social integration through culture, promoting access to culture for all, promoting participation, inclusion and diversity, and enhancing the role of culture in social cohesion, education, innovation and sustainable development. |
Amendment 37
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) Social innovation shall be supported in the areas falling within the scope of the ESF, in particular with the aim of testing, evaluating and scaling up innovative solutions, including at the local or regional level, in order to address social needs in partnership with the relevant partners and, in particular, social partners. | (1) Social innovation shall be supported in the areas falling within the scope of the ESF, in particular with the aim of testing, evaluating and scaling up innovative solutions, including at the local or regional level, in order to address social needs, including actions with a socio-cultural component, access to culture, youth participation and sport, media literacy and democratic engagement, in partnership with the relevant partners and, in particular, social partners and civil society organisations. |
Amendment 38
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) The Commission shall use technical assistance at its own initiative, in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation] to facilitate capacity building for social innovation, in particular through supporting mutual learning, transnational cooperation, establishing networks, and disseminating and promoting good practices and methodologies. | (2) The Commission shall use technical assistance at its own initiative, in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation] to facilitate capacity building for social innovation, including through social skills, cultural innovation and digital innovation, in particular through supporting mutual learning, transnational cooperation, establishing networks, and disseminating and promoting good practices and methodologies. |
Amendment 39
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 4a | |
| Synergies between the European Social Fund and Erasmus + programme | |
| 1. Synergies between the ESF and Erasmus+ programme shall be systematically implemented through blended funding mechanisms to maximise educational and training outcomes for vulnerable groups, social inclusion and youth employment. | |
| 2. The ESF shall serve as strategic leverage instrument to amplify Erasmus+ programme delivery, systematically implementing blended funding mechanisms that increase the Erasmus+ programme’s expenditure on educational and training opportunities for vulnerable groups, social inclusion and youth employment. | |
| 3. ESF skills allocations shall co-finance the actions of the Erasmus+ programme across a progressive synergy framework, enabling increased Erasmus+ programme’s spending, and may include, inter alia: | |
| (a) support for learning mobility and work-based learning opportunities, particularly targeting individuals with fewer opportunities, early leavers from education and training, low-skilled young people and disadvantaged groups; | |
| (b) upskilling and reskilling measures, such as within the Skills Guarantee, and including through cross-border cooperation and training partnerships aligned with labour market needs; | |
| (c) capacity building and innovation in education and training systems, including in relation to digital skills, digital credentials and transversal competences such as cultural and social skills. | |
| 4. Programming arrangements shall mandate joint calls between ESF Managing Authorities and Erasmus+ National Agencies, prioritising operations that optimise budgetary synergies and demonstrate measurable impact in facilitating the transition from education to employment, while fully respecting the specific objectives and governance autonomy of each programme. | |
| 5. The Commission shall establish annual leverage targets to maximise Erasmus+ programme impact through ESF co-financing. Monitoring shall be conducted through integrated digital dashboards tracking expenditure ratios, participant numbers, completion rates, and labour market integration outcomes to ensure real-time, evidence-based management. |
Amendment 40
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 4b | |
| Synergies with the Youth Guarantee | |
| The ESF shall support the implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee and strengthen operational links, in particular at local level, to support better pathways across education, training, youth work, volunteering, and employment services, including through synergies with the Erasmus+ programme, and to facilitate the transition of young people to independent living. In that context, the ESF shall prioritise the development of digital literacy, creativity, and innovation skills among young people, with a view to ensuring all young people can thrive in a digitalised economy and contribute to the Union’s innovation and cultural vitality. |
Amendment 41
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 4c | |
| Synergies with the AgoraEU programme | |
| The ESF shall support synergies with the AgoraEU programme to strengthen democratic participation, social inclusion, and equal access to civic life across the Union including through the contribution of the cultural and creative sectors. In particular, it shall enhance complementarities, notably at local and regional level, between education, skills and inclusion measures and initiatives supported under the AgoraEU programme, with a view to empowering citizens, especially those in vulnerable situations, to actively engage in democratic processes. In that context, the ESF shall contribute to promoting civic competences, media literacy, and critical thinking, including through awareness, participation and access to information, with particular attention to young people and underrepresented groups. |
Amendment 42
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall ensure meaningful participation of the social partners and civil society organisations in the delivery of support for quality employment, education and skills and social inclusion policies in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan]. | Member States shall ensure meaningful and structured participation of the social partners and civil society organisations in the delivery of support for quality employment, education and skills and social inclusion policies in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan]. |
Annex: declaration of input 4 paragraphs
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she included in his opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| UNI EUROPA | 43785827982-59 |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| None |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
Procedure pages
How the committees handled the text, and how their members voted on it.
Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 paragraph
| Title | 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 | |
| References | COM(2025)0558 – C10-0172/2025 – 2025/0239(COD) | |
| Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenary | EMPL 23.10.2025 | |
| Opinion by Date announced in plenary | CULT 23.10.2025 | |
| Rapporteur for opinion Date appointed | Isilda Gomes 9.12.2025 | |
| Discussed in committee | 18.3.2026 | |
| Date adopted | 3.6.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 19 3 3 |
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 paragraphs
19 · For
- EPP
- Sunčana Glavak, Elena Nevado del Campo, Giusi Princi, Manuela Ripa, Hélder Sousa Silva, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Milan Zver
- Renew
- Laurence Farreng, Nikola Minchev, Brigitte van den Berg
- S&D
- Gabriela Firea, Isilda Gomes, Hannes Heide, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere, Sandro Ruotolo
- The Left
- Anthony Smith
- Greens
- Diana Riba i Giner, Nela Riehl
3 · Against
- ESN
- Zsuzsanna Borvendég
- Patriots
- Catherine Griset, Annamária Vicsek
3 · Abstained
- ECR
- Marco Squarta, Ivaylo Valchev
- Patriots
- Antonín Staněk