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EU Parl Watch

opinion parliamentary committee, 15 July 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 REGI-AD-785226 · (COM(2025)0558 – C100172/2025 – 2025/0239(COD))

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Nora Mebarek

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AI:In short

The Committee on Regional Development gives its opinion on the proposed European Social Fund (ESF) regulation for 2028-2034, which would place the ESF inside National and Regional Partnership Plans. It proposes amendments to make the ESF an independent fund based on Articles 162 and 164 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, with its own objectives, budget and rules. It sets a financial envelope of EUR 124 190 000 000, with 15% for the Child Guarantee, 0,8% for outermost regions and dedicated envelopes for eastern border regions and just transition. It adds rules on thematic concentration, co-financing rates up to 90%, eligibility, social innovation, material deprivation, youth employment, industrial transition regions and partnership with regional and local authorities. It asks for tailored support for outermost, insular, rural and eastern border regions, and for people furthest from the labour market, including children, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities.

Position. The Committee on Regional Development proposes amendments to make the ESF an independent fund based on Articles 162 and 164 TFEU, with its own objectives, budget and rules, and to strengthen its territorial dimension and support for vulnerable groups and regions.

Key points

  1. The ESF should remain an autonomous instrument with its own legal basis in Articles 162 and 164 TFEU, not contingent on other instruments or economic coordination.
  2. The regulation should establish the ESF as an independent fund for 2028-2034, governed by its own rules while contributing to the general objectives of the NRP Plan Regulation.
  3. The ESF's general objective is to strengthen the social dimension of the Union and support the European Pillar of Social Rights, quality employment, equal opportunities and a skilled workforce.
  4. Specific objectives cover access to the labour market, modernising labour market institutions, education and training, social inclusion, and support for the most deprived.
  5. The financial envelope for 2028-2034 is EUR 124 190 000 000, with 15% for the Child Guarantee, 0,8% for outermost regions, and dedicated envelopes for eastern border regions and just transition.
  6. Member States must allocate at least 5% of ESF resources to the Child Guarantee, at least 10% in high child poverty countries, and at least 25% to social inclusion objectives.
  7. Co-financing rates of 90% apply to material deprivation, Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee priorities, and may be increased for disadvantaged areas.
  8. Certain costs are ineligible, including purchase of land, real estate, infrastructure, furniture, equipment and vehicles, with exceptions; ESF support is conditional on compliance with labour and social standards.
  9. Social innovation should be supported, including bottom-up approaches, testing and scaling up innovative solutions, and addressing long-term care and drug-related problems.
  10. Support for material deprivation should prioritise local products, respect dignity, include accompanying measures, and give special priority to child poverty and the Child Guarantee.
  11. Member States must support social inclusion and deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities, and youth employment must be programmed under a dedicated chapter.
  12. Member States and regions must organise multi-level governance and partnership with local authorities, social partners and civil society, and set up dedicated managing authorities and monitoring committees.

Who is affected

  • Member States and their regions, which must prepare ESF chapters, allocate resources and involve local authorities.
  • Regional and local authorities, which must be fully involved in designing, implementing and monitoring ESF actions.
  • Outermost, insular, rural and eastern border regions, which receive tailored support and higher co-financing.
  • Persons with disabilities, children, marginalised communities and people furthest from the labour market, who are target groups for ESF support.
  • Social partners, civil society organisations and NGOs, which participate in partnership and monitoring committees.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 124 190 000 000: financial envelope for the ESF for 2028 to 2034.
  • 15%: share of the envelope allocated to the Child Guarantee.
  • 0,8%: share of the envelope allocated as additional funding for outermost regions and certain NUTS level 2 regions.
  • At least 5%: share of ESF resources Member States must allocate to the Child Guarantee.
  • At least 10%: share for child poverty actions in Member States with above-average child poverty rates between 2024 and 2026.
  • At least 25%: share of ESF resources Member States must allocate to social inclusion objectives.
  • 90%: Union co-financing rate for material deprivation, Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee priorities.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034: programming period for ESF chapters.

Legal basis. Articles 162, 163, 164, 174 and 175(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and Article 349 TFEU.

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Full text

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Short justification 345 paragraphs

The proposal for a regulation establishing the European Social Fund (ESF) for the 2028-2034 period comes at a time of deep change in European economies and societies. The green and digital transitions, geopolitical tensions, demographic shifts and a changing labour market are reshaping skill, employment and social protection needs throughout the EU.

In view of this, the ESF remains one of the Union’s key instruments for investing in people, supporting access to employment, promoting fair working conditions and increasing social inclusion. The ESF has its own legal basis in the Treaties. Article 162 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union sets out its mission: improving employment opportunities for workers, helping to raise standards of living and strengthening economic and social cohesion within the Union.

As the primary tool for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, the ESF directly contributes to economic, social and territorial cohesion, in line with Article 174 TFEU.

The Commission proposal raises several major issues from a cohesion policy perspective, however.

In particular, bringing the ESF into a broader framework of National and Regional Partnership Plans risks undermining its readability, autonomy and capacity to meet its own objectives. However, given its specific legal basis in the Treaties, the ESF cannot be contingent on other instruments or be determined by economic coordination considerations. Its identity must be protected, therefore, and it must remain entirely geared towards its primary goals: supporting access to employment, promoting social inclusion and contributing to the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

What is more, the social challenges the EU is facing have intensified. Persistent poverty, including among people in work, unequal access to essential services, difficulties in integrating young people and discrimination affecting certain groups of the population call for an ambitious and targeted response. With this in mind, the ESF must continue to make tackling poverty and social exclusion a main priority, particularly with regard to children, people with disabilities, people with migrant backgrounds and marginalised communities.

Similarly, changes in demographics, including an ageing population, place further strain on social protection systems and certain key sectors, in particular healthcare and long-term care services. The ESF must help support those strategic sectors by promoting skill development, better working conditions and improved attractiveness of occupations, in order to guarantee quality, accessible services in every region.

The green and digital transitions, while presenting opportunities, also risk deepening territorial and social inequalities unless they come with suitable support. The ESF must play a key role in anticipating and aiding those transformations by supporting training, retraining and lifelong learning. Investment in skills should therefore benefit all regions, including those that are contending with structural challenges or are lagging behind.

Territorial aspects truly are key. There is still considerable variation between regions with regard to employment, skills and social inclusion. Local and regional authorities’ close relationships with the public and knowledge of the specific needs of their areas mean they play a key role in implementing employment and social policy. It is therefore essential that they are fully involved in designing, implementing and monitoring actions funded by the ESF, in line with the principle of multi-level governance.

Moreover, regions that face specific constraints – such as outermost, insular or rural regions or those facing demographic shifts – must be given particular attention. Needs associated with social inclusion and access to essential services are often greater in those areas, which warrants tailored support, including higher co-financing rates.

Implementation of the ESF must also take into account the nature of the target groups. Support for those furthest from the labour market calls for integrated, personalised and long-term approaches. Following a logic of conditions based on short-term results could render interventions less effective by discouraging actions that target the most vulnerable groups. A sufficiently flexible implementation framework should therefore be provided to balance effectiveness, inclusion and sustainable results.

Lastly, the ESF’s political ambition must go hand in hand with financial resources commensurate with the matters in question. At a time of growing social investment needs, an appropriate amount of financing is essential to make certain the fund has an impact and to advance social levelling up within the Union.

Read the rest (333 paragraphs)

Ultimately, the ESF must remain a strong, autonomous, well-resourced instrument, founded on its own legal basis in the Treaties, that works for a more social, inclusive and cohesive Europe. By enhancing its focus on quality employment, skills and tackling inequalities while bolstering its territorial dimension, it can fully contribute to improving the European social model and competitiveness that works for people.

AMENDMENT

The Committee on Regional Development submits the following to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Title

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Proposal for aProposal for a
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCILREGULATION 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 2034establishing the European Social Fund and conditions for the implementation of the Union support to quality employment, skills and social inclusion for the period from 2028 to 2034, as part of the National and Regional Partnership Plan set out in Regulation (EU) [NRPPlan].

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Citation 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 164, and Article 175(3) thereof,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 162, 163, 164, and Articles 174 and 175(3) thereof,

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Citation 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
having regard to Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which recognises the specific constraints of the outermost regions,

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) In the light of Article 162 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the European Social Fund (ESF) aims to improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal market and to contribute thereby to raising the standard of living. It shall increase their geographical and occupational mobility within the Union, and to facilitate their adaptation to industrial changes and to changes in production systems, in particular through vocational education and training and retraining, as well as to promote social inclusion. Pursuant to Article 174(1)TFEU, the Union shall develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. 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 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, so as to guarantee equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market, fair, quality working conditions, social protection, placing a particular focus on inclusive, quality education and training, lifelong learning, investment in children and young people and access to basic services, as well as to contribute to the eradication of poverty, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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].deleted
1 Insert publication reference

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.deleted

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, geopolitical instability, vulnerable supply chains, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, climate change, the clean energy and industrial transition, technological change and digital transition, the rapid developments in the use of artificial intelligence, demographic change, an ageing workforce, unequal access to affordable and quality care services, lack of social housing, growing poverty and especially child poverty, and growing skills and labour shortages in many sectors and regions and the lack of economic and social convergence between Member States and regions. Moreover, the current transitions bring challenges for workers in general, but in particular for those workers living in rural areas, peripheral and outermost regions, particularly in regions affected by depopulation, poor infrastructure and brain as well as those areas affected by prolonged economic stagnation, transition towards climate neutrality and/or the regional development trap.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(4a) This Regulation takes into account the European Parliament's resolution of 10 March 2026 on the housing crisis in the European Union, which proposed solutions for sustainable and affordable housing. The challenges related to the lack of supply of decent, sustainable and affordable housing, exacerbated by increasing rates of energy poverty, are not only a factor of social exclusion for the most vulnerable groups, but also a barrier to the establishment and stability of the middle class. Inadequate response to the housing crisis limits the economy as it restricts the availability of skilled professionals, undermines the economic competitiveness and social cohesion of European society, exacerbating territorial and social inequalities. Public policies should ensure access to sustainable and affordable housing, while also guaranteeing the ‘right to stay’ and to remain in the communities in which they choose to live. In this context, the ESF should support measures that contribute to social inclusion and better living conditions, e.g. by investing in skills for the construction and renovation sector and supporting access to sustainable and affordable housing, in conjunction with other relevant EU instruments. Solutions should be adapted to specific regional realities, such as in the outermost regions.

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(4b) Considering the persistent levels of poverty and social exclusion across the European Union, the ESF should contribute to the effective implementation of Union frameworks and targets aimed at progressively reducing poverty and ultimately eradicating it. In this regard, ESF interventions should support the delivery of the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, contribute to the achievement of the Porto Social Targets, and reinforce the implementation of the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(4c) The European Union is faced with a situation in which 13 million people are unemployed1a, while at the same time there are almost 3 million vacant jobs, and the European Social Fund should primarily support active integration into the labour market rather than help maintain dependency on social assistance. Member States should be able to peg the granting of certain forms of social support funded by the EU to the acceptance of suitable job offers, participation in training or back-to-work measures. People who repeatedly and for no reason turn down reasonable job offers should not continue to benefit from EU financial support for employment and social inclusion.
1a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Unemployment_statistics

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, the Union should be prepared for current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, by making growth more inclusive, by promoting access to quality, secure and fairly paid employment and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility and sectoral restructuring, paying particular attention to urban, rural), cross-border, peripheral, outermost, remote and islands areas that face specific social and demographic weaknesses, ageing of population, outmigration of young people, including regions affected by industrial transformation processes and site closures due to decarbonisation-related job losses while ensuring equal opportunities to all and social inclusion, thereby supporting the “right to stay”.

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 6

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 due to the great demographic challenge affecting Member States. That demographic challenge is particularly harmful for those Member States and regions that are already suffering its effects and will rapidly experience strong disruptions in their labour market. 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, harm territorial cohesion, especially in rural and least favoured regions, and also impact people’s prosperity and capacity to thrive under Social Europe. For some sectors and regions this will lead to labour cost pressures. This is why the ESF needs to respond to regional realities, including the specificities of outermost regions, by fostering an increase in participation in the labour market, especially of women and young people, persons victims of violence, persons with disabilities, low-skilled people, third-country nationals, and other marginalised groups. The ESF should also support employers in finding the right people for available jobs, empower older workers with appropriate labour market and workplace measures, promote self-employment, foster skills development, vocational training and education to ensure a skilled workforce able to tackle major societal and demographic challenges, support families and maintain a healthy work life balance including by ensuring access to quality childcare and support to the elderly and to care-takers of dependent persons. In order to promote quality employment and prevent labour market segmentation, the ESF should also foster actions to support stable and secure career paths. Unpaid care work and the lack of measures to support work -life balance remain a key barrier to women's full labour market participation. Tackling gender gaps in pay, pensions, care and employment is essential to build a fair, resilient economy and ensure that the green and digital transitions leave no one behind.

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 provide for economic stability in the labour market and to support and prepare its people with the skills and competences needed for success in learning, work, and life. The ESF can play a valuable role in training and adjusting the workforce for transitioning and industries of the future. In that sense, a well-prepared workforce is the basis of a prosperous and competitive economy and key to addressing the future world of work.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 8

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 is essential for driving innovation and advancing decarbonisation and circularity across vital industries. This focus on promoting a culture of Lifelong Learning, skills enhancement and improving qualifications is crucial for achieving the Union’s objectives of climate neutrality, 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. The ESF should, support targeted retraining, upskilling and reskilling measures for local workers, former workers, in particular from coal-mining and peat regions, and other persons directly affected by industrial transformation due to decarbonisation, including part-time workers, seasonal workers and older workers.

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 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, and in every region, in particular to address the challenges of the digital, green and demographic transitions. The ESF should provide support for the improvement of the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness and relevance of education and training, including dual training systems, for the labour market, for example by the promotion of digital learning, in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences and basic skills, including media literacy, entrepreneurial skills, language skills and health literacy which everyone needs for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion, and active citizenship. The ESF should support Member States in implementing the measures set out in the EU Action Plan against Cyberbullying, thereby ensuring that people are not socially excluded from the digital environment. This will contribute to notably digital skills and key enabling technologies, but also skills to support emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, 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 girls, low-skilled or poorly qualified adults. In that context, it is therefore essential to promote equal participation of women in those sectors, including by supporting women’s entrepreneurship, self-employment and access to finance.

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(9a) In line with the Union of Skills, the challenges of the digital, green and demographic transitions need to be addressed by upskilling and reskilling workers, aligning education with industry needs, and fostering constructive partnerships among educational institutions, vocational schools, employers, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and public authorities. The training offer should also be agile enough to keep up with the pace and resource constraints of the above mentioned enterprises in relation to the needs of the market and to cater for needs of the different regions, such as less developed and outermost regions. In cooperation with stakeholders, such support should also cover, within the context of vocational training, ongoing training for teachers and trainers, development of up-to-date teaching materials, and the anticipation of future skills requirements. 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, while ensuring fair working conditions and preventing brain drain. Particular attention should be paid to apprenticeship schemes, work-based learning and cooperation with local businesses, e.g. in just transition regions, in order to strengthen skills levels locally and support the retention of young people in their communities.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(9b) Enhancing the Union of Skills requires education and training systems that are better aligned with labour market needs and the economic and digital transitions, including the opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence. The ESF should support improvements to the quality and adaptability of vocational education and training by promoting partnerships between vocational schools, employers and public authorities so as to ensure a real link between training and employment opportunities. Such support should also cover, within the context of vocational training, ongoing training for teachers and trainers, development of up-to-date teaching materials, and the anticipation of future skills requirements, in cooperation with stakeholders. In line with a flexible approach and the principle of territorial cohesion, the measures supported should take into account specific regional circumstances so it is possible to adapt curricula, training methods and eligibility rules, such as the minimum number required to form a class, or the need to adjust funding to meet higher costs, particularly in the outermost regions, where vocational schools play an essential role in youth employability and lifelong capacity-building.

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(9c) In order to combat early school leaving and skills shortages, the European Union and the Member States should be able to peg certain forms of support financed through the European Social Fund to participation of the beneficiaries in education, vocational training or qualifications programmes. Around 1 in 10 young people in the European Union are leaving school early, which is contributing to the increase in social exclusion and in shortages of skilled labour3a.
3a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/SEPDF/cache/1150.pdf

Amendment 19

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.(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 being based on Articles 162 and 164 TFEU and contributing to economic, social and territorial cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU, its specific identity, objectives, financial allocation and autonomy, as well as its governance and implementation mechanisms, building on a strong place-based approach and the principles of multilevel governance and partnership, should be preserved. It is therefore necessary to lay down in this Regulation the general and specific objectives, as well as the specificities of the ESF, and to clarify its relation to the objectives set out in the NRP Regulation, to ensure that the resources allocated to the ESF remain targeted towards its specific objectives and to prevent those resources from being diluted in a single financial instrument without clearly defined social objectives.

Amendment 20

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 design, management, implementation and control of the actions supported by the ESF depends on good multi-level governance, a bottom-up approach and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels, in particular regional and local authorities and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society organisations. Dedicated governance structures, with clearly identified managing authorities, should also be put in place.

Amendment 21

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 12

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, and to respond to the severity of the socio-economic challenges facing the Union, Member States and regions should allocate a specific and dedicated budget to the ESF.Whilst a minimum level of support for social policies is necessary to ensure action commensurate to these challenges and contributes to predictability for both beneficiaries and managing authorities, and whilst there is also a need for flexibility to be closely corresponding to the national, regional and local characteristics, the contribution needs to be sufficient to achieve the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights and of the European Anti-Poverty Strategy. The underlying sources of social disparities or problems need to inform the relative importance given to investments and reforms. This implies that policy safeguards through thematic concentration should result from engagement between Member States and regions and the Commission. The earmarking of sufficient resources to the 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, safeguarding the sustainability of the European social model, while forging a link between economic growth and social policies under the aegis of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Amendment 22

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 13

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, self-employment, labour mobility and social inclusion. The ESF should support Member States and regions, based on a territorial approach, 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, demographic, industrial and digital transitions or labour market shocks, persons with disabilities who face systemic barriers in accessing the labour market, as well as those furthest away from the labour market. In this regard, guarantees should be in place to ensure that ESF support is in line with fundamental workers’ rights. The ESF should also support actions for older workers, by promoting healthy working conditions adapted to needs, ensuring access to rehabilitation services, supporting re- and upskilling, lifelong-learning, improving the capacity of workers to adapt and developing solutions that promote active ageing and staying in work. Furthermore, 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, notably by providing support in career guidance and career choice. including through the full implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee, which should also support quality youth employment opportunities. This particular focus of the ESF on youth employability, is essential for improving their income stability and facilitating their access to affordable housing. In addition, the ESF should continue to invest in skills crucial for the green, industrial and digital transitions, thereby helping to make the European economy more competitive and innovative, in particular by developing the capacity of workers and companies, especially SMEs, to adapt to technological change and industrial transformation. When drawing up and implementing support measures under the ESF, account should be taken of the individual character and differing socio-economic and demographic conditions of the regions, in particular issues pertaining to intergenerational solidarity, as well as the specific challenges faced by rural, cross-border, sparsely populated or transition areas, and by the outermost regions, ensuring an approach that both caters to local needs and fosters territorial cohesion.

Amendment 23

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 13 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(13 a) The ESF should equally contribute to strengthening resilience of the EU including through support of civil defence skills and preparedness, dual-use skills, new technologies, and the adaptation of veterans with skills acquired during military service to the civilian labour market.

Amendment 24

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 14

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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. The ESF should also ensure that basic skills gaps are closed across all ages. In particular, the ESF should help progression within education and training, including adult education, and transition to work, support lifelong learning, including mentoring, formal, non-formal and informal learning, as well as its recognition, at all stages of life, and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. that can be adapted and implemented in different regions, while taking into account their specific characteristics. In regions where workers are adversely affected by decarbonisation related restructuring, the ESF should contribute to integrated place-based strategies that link investment in people with local regeneration efforts, ensuring a just transition, in line with the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2021/1056. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, leading local and regional small and medium-sized businesses, social partners, universities and research centres, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications, as well as through inclusive lifelong learning opportunities are provided to those most disadvantaged in society. This should, where appropriate, include support for tuition, lifelong guidance and tailored reskilling pathways for workers and former workers, including those over the age of 50 who have lost their jobs due to decarbonisation. Account must be taken in the measures implemented of the additional difficulties faced by certain small or geographically remote regions, including the outermost regions, particularly in setting up training groups.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 14 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(14a) In order to ensure a holistic and integrated transition from training into work, it should be recognised that “key competences” includes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that all individual need for personal fulfilment, employability, and social inclusion. “Validation” should include a recognition of the acquired learning outcomes in a formal, non-formal, or informal setting, and such a process should be recognised both in society and via a formal recognition through qualifications.

Amendment 26

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 15

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 services, including mental health services, as well as, in particular, programmes for prevention, treatment and harm reduction for drug addicts, with a particular focus on the emerging challenge of synthetic drugs, ensuring ‘equal access to services’ and long-term care services. The ESF should support Member States or, where applicable, regions in implementing measures to promote gender equality, 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, including for persons with disabilities. 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, and should be guaranteed across all regions, through integrated place-based approaches and coordination with cohesion policy instruments. The ESF should ensure that all children have access to essential services of good quality. This includes ensuring equal access to early childhood education and care, comprehensive mental-health services and wellbeing programmes for children and young people, and high-quality healthcare services. In line with the EU’s and Member States’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the specific needs of persons with disabilities should be addressed by ESF-funded actions. Funding should be used in particular to improve accessibility, in line with EU harmonised accessibility requirements and improve access to services, inclusive education, quality employment in the open labour market and support for independent living. In this context, the ESF should support the transition from institutional to family-based and community-based care in line with the European Commission’s Guidance on Independent Living and Inclusion in the Community for Persons with Disabilities of 2024. The ESF should also contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility, adequacy and inclusiveness.

Amendment 27

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 15 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(15a) With a view to ensuring the dignity, quality and continuity of care provided to older and dependent people, and to guarantee that informal carers can maintain an adequate standard of living or, alternatively, that dependent people have effective access to appropriate professional care, the ESF should support care models that enable the patient to remain within their family and community environment, through direct financial support mechanisms and localised responses designed to address the shortcomings of traditional institutional care, particularly where such care is provided in overcrowded, insufficient or inappropriate conditions, including in cases where the carer's geographical location is unsuited to the dependent person’s family, social and geographical conditions.

Amendment 28

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 target the most deprived persons, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, origin or ethnicity, age, religion or beliefs. It should be used to promote equal opportunities for all, to support strong social safety nets, foster social inclusion, fairness and intergenerational solidarity, and fight poverty. The ESF should support Member States’ or, where applicable, regions’ efforts to eradicate poverty, in line with the Anti-Poverty Strategy target by 2050, including by addressing material deprivation, with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion notably by means of psychosocial support measures, ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing inequalities in terms of health and access to healthcare, sport and physical activity. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children in poverty, marginalised communities, such as victims of domestic and gender violence, persons with disabilities or chronic diseases, marginalised communities, the working poor, the most deprived, persons in long-term poverty and profound exclusion, and third-country nationals. The ESF should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration, including by means of training and skills development measures, and by promoting mental health as an essential tool for active inclusion, supporting programmes that combine psychosocial support, the promotion of mental well-being, in particular specific programmes to reduce the use of psychoactive substances, and vocational training, recognising that mental health issues also constitute a barrier to accessing, remaining in and re-entering the labour market. It should also promote meaningful employment in an inclusive and open labour market, with conditions that enable people to participate in the economy without the risk of in-work poverty, and to support work accommodations that enable people to succeed at work. The ESF should also tackle the housing crisis, including through integrated local strategies, enabling access to affordable housing, first and foremost for young people; it should also tackle homelessness, and the most extreme situations of housing exclusion, including with prevention and alleviation measures in line with the Lisbon declaration of 2021, notably support aimed at reintegration, self-reliance and full social inclusion, and access to housing where this is deemed to be an appropriate component of their rehabilitation plan. The ESF should also aim to bring people out of poverty in order to reinforce their autonomy and promote their own prosperity.

Amendment 29

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16a) The rise in trafficking, consumption and circulation of drugs, particularly new variants thereof, poses a growing challenge to public security, public health, social inclusion and social cohesion within the Union, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups and those excluded from the labour market. Drug addiction undermines sustainable participation in the labour force, access to quality employment and equal opportunities, as well as social integration, and thus demands integrated responses in the domains of prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, social reintegration and psychosocial support. The ESF should support integrated actions that aim to build up the resilience and capacity of social, health, educational and community services to respond to these emerging and complex phenomena, foster the professional and social integration of the people concerned and prevent the sustained marginalisation of young people and families who are exposed to these issues.

Amendment 30

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16b) Recalls that households and families in all their diversity, including single-parent families, large families, and those with children or dependent persons in their care, play an essential role in social cohesion and have absorbed a significant share of the social and economic consequences of the successive crises of the past fifteen years; stresses that this reliance on unpaid and informal care, which especially affects women, should not substitute for adequate public social investment; stresses, for all those reasons, that the ESF should support families and carers through accessible, affordable and quality care services, work-life balance policies and adequate social protection, in line with the relevant principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Amendment 31

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16c) With a view to rendering policies more responsive to social change as well as to encouraging and supporting innovative solutions, support for social innovation is crucial. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies. Social actors, enterprises and NGOs play a key role in delivering on social innovation, promoting social inclusion and quality employment, and contributing to deliver on the priorities and social objectives of the EU and on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Amendment 32

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16 d (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16d) In order to strengthen cohesion across the Union and citizen's right to stay in their communities and regions, the ESF should support integrated territorial investments and community-led local development approaches addressing demographic decline, labour shortages, social exclusion and access to essential services.

Amendment 33

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16 e (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16e) Social innovation depends not only on projects, but on the wider infrastructure that enables them, such as competence centres, support organisations, mentoring, communities of practice, ecosystem mapping, partnership-building, impact measurement and technical support; therefore the new MFF and NRPPs should include multiannual technical assistance, structured support for National Competence Centres and other public-interest intermediaries, shared frameworks for impact measurement and learning, and funding pathways that go beyond standard grants to cover experimentation, transfer and scale-up.

Amendment 34

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, 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.

Amendment 35

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(17a) As regards the scope of ESF support, when setting priorities and selecting interventions the Member States should maintain an appropriate level of flexibility and target interventions with due regard for the societal challenges they are facing, the situation on the labour market, territorial features and socioeconomic needs at regional and national level.

Amendment 36

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(17b) Member States and the Commission should ensure that the ESF contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men, including participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. The promotion of such accessibility should be taken into account in the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of chapters, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities, and paying particular attention to rural, mountainous and depopulated areas.

Amendment 37

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(17c) It should be possible for the ESF to support actions in the area of social and affordable housing, in particular for the benefit of persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion, persons with disabilities, elderly persons and other socially vulnerable groups. It should also be possible for support of that kind to be implemented as a self-contained intervention type rather than solely as an accompanying or supplementary action, in particular with a view to increasing the affordability of housing, supporting independent living and strengthening social and territorial cohesion.

Amendment 38

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 18

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.(18) The implementation of the ESF should be guided by the principles and values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, and solidarity. The ESF should not support actions that contribute to any form of segregation or exclusion. Member States should respect horizontal principles in the preparation and implementation of their chapters. In this context, Member States are able to use the ESF to support targeted actions to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, The programme should also respect the principles set out in the 2017 EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, in Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in the Union of Equality strategies. Moreover, the programme should support education systems and training institutions and should respect social dialogue and collective agreements. Furthermore, social partners and other stakeholders in the area of education and training policy should be closely involved in the implementation of the relevant chapters at national and/or regional level.

Amendment 39

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 19

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(19) To ensure that the social dimension of Europe as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights is duly put forward and that a sufficient amount of resources is targeting those most in need, Member States should allocate resources of the ESF to fostering social inclusion.(19) To ensure that the social dimension of Europe as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights is duly put forward and that a sufficient, stable, predictable, and ring-fenced amount of resources is targeting those most in need, Member States or, where applicable, regions should allocate resources of the ESF to fostering social inclusion.

Amendment 40

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) To address the persistently high level of child poverty in the Union, and respect principle 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which states that children have the right to protection from poverty and that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the right to specific measures to strengthen equal opportunities, Member States or, where applicable, regions should implement the Child Guarantee.

Amendment 41

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 21

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21) The ESF should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote the social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. Member States should allocate resources of the ESF to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness and food and material deprivation.(21) The ESF should contribute to the eradication of poverty by supporting national or regional schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote the social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived, including complementary long-term measures in the area of training. Member States or, where applicable, regions should allocate resources of the ESF to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness and food and material deprivation, with solutions tailored to address the specific regional circumstances and by means of a joined-up support approach aimed at fostering their self-reliance and full social integration and inclusion.

Amendment 42

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 22

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 or regions continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF towards measures to promote youth employment, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee. Member States or, where applicable, regions should therefore allocate an appropriate amount of resources to this challenge. Member States or regions seriously affected by youth unemployment should allocate resources of the ESF to support youth employability, as well as adequate capacities of employment services to provide tailor-made and holistic support and better-targeted offers to young people. This can also include further education and training opportunities.

Amendment 43

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 23

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) The implementation of the European Social Fund is based on an effective and structured partnership between public authorities, local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, including NGOs and youth organisations, and in accordance with the principle of multi-level governance. This partnership is vital for the efficiency, legitimacy and ownership of the actions supported by the ESF. It is therefore essential that Member States or, where applicable, regions, ensure the participation of competent local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society in the design, management and 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. The ESF should also support enhancing the efficiency of public administration and the institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders at national, regional and local level.

Amendment 44

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(24) Taking into account the special characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions, the Member States should include in their Chapter for outermost regions, measures for enhancing employment and labour mobility, in particular for young people, education and skills, social inclusion.(24) In accordance with Article 349 TFEU, and taking into account the special and permanent characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions, in particular their remoteness and insularity, transport costs, and small-scale markets, the Member States should include in their Chapter for outermost regions, tailored measures and specific support for enhancing essential services, long term care, employment and labour mobility, in particular for young people, and people in vulnerable situations, as well as education and skills, social inclusion and to tackle depopulation. This chapter should provide the operational basis for actions in the outermost regions, ensuring the involvement of regional authorities in the design, management, implementation, delivery and evaluation of interventions, as well as a dedicated financial allocation for these regions, not subject to the budget expenditure tracking and performance framework. For all measures supported by the ESF in the outermost regions, the eligibility of additional costs arising from insularity and remoteness should also be recognised, by means of a mark-up to cover these costs and in order to ensure that financial support is not limited to the measures themselves, but also covers the removal of permanent geographical barriers that hinder access to such measures, promoting territorial and social cohesion and ensuring 'freedom to stay’.. The co-financing rate for projects in the outermost regions should be 85 %, and may be increased up to 100 % as set out in Article 2g (new).

Amendment 45

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(24a) The Union’s Eastern border regions, particularly NUTS 2 regions bordering Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, are exposed to permanent security, hybrid and economic pressures resulting from Russia’s war against Ukraine, militarisation of the Union’s external borders and hostile actions conducted against the European Union. The challenges they face include increased security pressures, socio-economic impacts affecting local economies, businesses and people, and are listed in the Commission Communication from 18 February 2026 on the EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Those regions therefore require a dedicated financial allocation, simplified procedures and targeted support aimed at mitigating those challenges, in particular by addressing labour market disruptions, supporting the development of entrepreneurship, and ensuring the continuity of education, healthcare and essential social services, addressing demographic decline effects, promoting active social inclusion and supporting skills development.

Amendment 46

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(24b) In the event of exceptional or unusual circumstances seriously affecting the labour market or social cohesion, the ESF should be allowed, on a strictly temporary and limited basis, to support job retention measures such as short-time work schemes, even in the absence of associated activation measures, and access to healthcare in order to prevent a rapid deterioration of socio-economic conditions.

Justification

Based on Article 4(3) of the ESF+ Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/1057).

Amendment 47

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(24c) The ESF will continue to contribute to territorial and local development strategies. It will contribute to the fulfilment of the Plan requirement including through poverty reduction and/or social inclusion measures, while taking into account the specificities of urban, rural and coastal regions, as well as eastern border regions, in view of tackling the socio-economic inequalities in cities and regions.

Amendment 48

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 25 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(25a) The ESF deals more than any other EU fund directly with the most vulnerable and therefore necessitates administrative burdens and bureaucratic hurdles being reduced to the greatest extent possible

Amendment 49

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1) This Regulation lays down specific conditions for the implementation of the European Social Fund for the 2028-2034 programming period as part of the Union support in accordance with the general objectives laid down in Article 2 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan Regulation], and in particular point (b) and (e) thereof.(1) This Regulation establishes the European Social Fund (ESF) for the 2028-2034 programming period as an independent fund, founded on Article 162 of the TFEU. While the ESF contributes to the general objectives laid down in Regulation XX [NRP Plan Regulation], it shall be governed by the specific rules laid down in this Regulation, which ensure that the resources allocated are targeted towards the specific objectives of the ESF, remain identifiable, predictable and ring-fenced, and contribute to the social, economic and territorial cohesion of the Union. This Regulation lays down the objectives of the ESF, its budget for the period 2028 to 2034, as well as the specific conditions and provisions for its implementation, the scope of its support, and the types of expenditure eligible.

Amendment 50

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(2) This Union support shall be provided under the National and Regional Partnership Plan, in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation (EU) […] [NRP Plan].(2) The ESF support shall be provided in accordance with the rules laid down in this Regulation and, to the extent that they are compatible with it, the relevant provisions set out in Regulation (EU) […] [NRP Plan].

Amendment 51

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 1a
General objectives of the ESF
1. The general objective of the European Social Fund is to strengthen the social dimension of the Union and to help Member States and regions in enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion and reducing regional disparities by supporting the implementation of the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
2. The ESF shall support, complement and add value to the policies of Member States to promote quality employment, equal opportunities, active inclusion, fair social protection and a skilled workforce ready for the current and upcoming transitions, such as a fair transition towards climate neutrality. Consequently, the ESF shall also provide support for workers, enterprises, including actors in the social economy. It shall also focus on quality and inclusive education and training, learning, investment in children and young people, persons in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations in education or labour market, such as long-term unemployed, vulnerable families, people with disabilities and marginalised communities. It shall support people of all ages facing social exclusion in accessing basic services, including housing. It shall contribute to preventing and eradicating poverty and inequalities, notably child poverty, in accordance with title XI of the TFUE (294) and in line with the Union’s social targets for 2030 and the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
3. The ESF shall be implemented: (a) under shared management, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the specific objectives set out in Article 2e (new); and (b) under direct and indirect management, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the objectives set out in Article 2d (new).
4. The ESF support shall be programmed and implemented in a manner that ensures that those objectives remain identifiable, measurable and auditable throughout the implementation period.

Amendment 52

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 1b
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
(1) lifelong learning’ means learning in all its forms, namely, formal, non-formal and informal learning, that takes place at all stages in life and results in an improvement or an update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society in a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective, including the provision of counselling and guidance services, including early childhood education and care, general education, vocational education and training, higher education, adult education, youth work and other learning settings outside formal education and training and it typically promotes cross-sectoral cooperation and flexible learning pathways;
(2) ‘third-country national’ means a person who is not a citizen of the Union, including stateless persons and persons with an undetermined nationality;
(3) ‘basic material assistance’ means goods which fulfil the basic needs of a person for a life with dignity, such as clothing, hygiene goods, including feminine hygiene products, and school material;
(4) ‘disadvantaged group’ means a group of people in vulnerable situations, including people experiencing or at risk of poverty, social exclusion or discrimination in its multiple dimensions;
(5) ‘key competences’ means the knowledge, skills and competences all individuals need, at any stage of their lives, through formal, non-formal and informal learning in a lifelong learning perspective, for their personal fulfilment and development, employability, social inclusion and active citizenship, namely, literacy; multilingualism; mathematics, science, technology, arts and engineering; digital skills; media skills; personal, social and learning to learn skills; active citizenship skills; entrepreneurship; cultural and intercultural awareness and expression; and critical thinking;
(6) 'most deprived persons' means natural persons, whether individuals, families, households or groups composed of such persons, whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria set by the national competent authorities in consultation with relevant stakeholders, while avoiding conflicts of interest, or defined by the partner organisations and which are approved by those national competent authorities and which may include elements that allow the targeting of the most deprived persons in certain geographical areas;
(7) ‘end recipients’ means the most deprived persons receiving the support as laid down in Article 6;
(8) ‘social innovation’ means an activity, that is social both as to its ends and its means and in particular an activity which relates to the development and implementation of new ideas concerning products, services, practices and models, that simultaneously meets social needs and creates new social relationships or collaborations between public, civil society or private organisations, thereby benefiting society and boosting its capacity to act;
(9) ‘accompanying measure’ means an activity provided in addition to the distribution of food and/or basic material assistance with the aim of addressing social exclusion and contributing to the eradication of poverty, such as referrals to or providing social and health services, including psychological support, or providing relevant information on public services or advice on managing a household budget;
(10) ‘social experimentation’ means a policy intervention that aims to provide an innovative response to social needs, implemented on a small scale and in conditions that enable its impact to be measured, prior to being implemented in other contexts including geographical and sectorial ones, or implemented on a larger scale, if the results prove to be positive;
(11) ‘cross-border partnership’ means a structure of cooperation between public employment services, the social partners or civil society located in at least two Member States;
(12) ‘microenterprise’ means an enterprise with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet below EUR 2 000 000;
(13) ‘social enterprise’ means an undertaking, regardless of its legal form, including social economy enterprises, or a natural person which:
(a) in accordance with its articles of association, statutes or with any other legal document that may result in liability under the rules of the Member State where a social enterprise is located, has the achievement of measurable, positive social impacts, as its primary social objective rather than the generation of profit for other purposes, and which provides services or goods that generate a social return or employs methods of production of goods or services that embody social objectives;
(b) uses its profits first and foremost to achieve its primary social objective, and has predefined procedures and rules that ensure that the distribution of profits does not undermine the primary social objective;
(c) is managed in an entrepreneurial, participatory, accountable and transparent manner, in particular by involving workers, customers and stakeholders on whom its business activities have an impact;
(14) ‘cost of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance’ means the actual costs which are linked to the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance by the beneficiary and are not limited to the price of the food and/or basic material assistance;
(15) ‘microfinance’ includes guarantees, microcredit, equity and quasi-equity, coupled with accompanying business development services such as those provided in the form of individual counselling, training and mentoring, extended to persons and microenterprises that experience difficulties accessing credit for the purpose of professional and revenue-generating activities;
(16) ‘blending operation’ means an action supported by the Union budget, including within a blending facility or platform as defined in Article 2, point (6), of the Financial Regulation, combining non-repayable forms of support or financial instruments from the Union budget with repayable forms of support from development or other public finance institutions, as well as from commercial finance institutions and investors;
(17) ‘legal entity’ means a natural person, or a legal person created and recognised as such under Union, national, or international law, which has legal personality and the capacity to act in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity which does not have legal personality as referred to in Article 197(2), point (c), of the Financial Regulation;
(18) ‘areas in demographic transition’ means the areas that suffer an average loss of 7.5 inhabitants for every 1 000 residents at NUTS 3 level for at least 10 years.
(19) ‘Validation’ means the process by which an authorised body confirms that an individual has achieved learning outcomes, whether gained through formal, non-formal, or informal learning. It involves four stages: identifying relevant learning and working experience, documenting it, assessing it against a recognised standard, and certifying the results, which may lead to a partial or full qualification.
(20) ‘Recognition’ means the acknowledgement of an individual’s knowledge, skills, and competences in two ways: formal recognition, through qualifications, validation, equivalence, credits, or exemptions granted by an authorised body; and social recognition, through acknowledgement of their value by employers and other social and economic stakeholders.
(21) ‘social economy’ means a set of private law entities providing goods and services to their members or to society, encompassing organisational forms such as cooperatives, mutual societies, associations (including charities), foundations or social enterprises, as well as other legal forms, that operate in accordance with the following key principles and features: (i) the primacy of people as well as social or environmental purpose over profit; (ii) the reinvestment of all or most of the profits and surpluses to further pursue their social or environmental purposes and carry out activities in the interest of their members/users (‘collective interest’) or society at large (‘general interest’); (iii) democratic or participatory governance.

Amendment 53

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1) The European Social Fund (ESF) shall support the specific objectives set out in Article 3 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan Regulation].(1) The ESF shall support Member States and Regions in implementing the general and specific objectives set out in this Regulation with the aim of contributing to the fulfilment of the objectives enshrined in Articles 162 and 174 of the Treaty and to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It shall also generally support the specific objectives set out in Article 3 of Regulation XX [NRP Plan Regulation], providing they are in line with this Regulation.

Amendment 54

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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].(2) For the purpose of paragraph 1, Member States and Regions may, where relevant for achieving the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, take into account, the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as provided for in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty.

Amendment 55

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2a
ESF national and regional chapters
(1) Each Member State shall, in partnership with and ensuring the full involvement of its regional and local authorities and the other partners referred to in Article 7 [Partnership], prepare and submit to the Commission an ESF Chapter, or ESF components within a chapter, setting out arrangements for using the ESF resources in an effective and efficient way for the period from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034.
(2) Where a regional or subnational authority has competence in any of the social policy areas covered by this Regulation, the corresponding ESF support shall be delivered through a regional or territorial chapter, or through an ESF component within such a chapter. In other cases, the Member State may deliver the support via a single ESF chapter, various ESF chapters, or ESF components within a regional, territorial or sectoral chapter. The Member State shall make the Chapter submitted to the Commission public.
(3) Regional and local authorities shall be fully involved in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the ESF support. Regional and local authorities, civil society organisations and other partners as set out in Article 7 [Partnership] shall be part of the Monitoring Committee responsible for the chapter or chapters concerned.

Amendment 56

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article2b
ESF Programming and Evaluation
(1) Each ESF Chapter or component within a chapter shall set out the relevant national and regional agenda of reforms, measures, investments and other interventions.
(2) Only measures whose implementation started from 1 January 2028 shall be eligible for financing provided that they comply with the relevant requirements.
(3) The Commission shall assess each ESF Chapter or component within a chapter and shall ensure that it complies with this Regulation and other applicable rules.
(4) The Commission may make observations within three months of the date of submission by the Member State of its ESF Chapter or component within a chapter.
(5) The Member State shall review the ESF Chapter or component within a chapter taking into account any observations made by the Commission.

Amendment 57

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2c
Content of the ESF Chapter and components
Each ESF Chapter or component within a chapter shall contain the following elements:
(a) a summary of the policy choices and the main results expected for the ESF;
(b) complementarities between the ESF and other Union instruments, in particular the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);
(c) the preliminary financial allocation of the ESF by policy objective at national level, respecting ESF-specific rules on thematic concentration;
(d) the list of planned measures within chapters under the ESF with the respective preliminary financial allocations and the corresponding national contribution by category of regions;
(e) a summary of the actions which the Member State concerned shall take to reinforce its administrative capacity of the implementation of the ESF.
(f) a multilevel governance assessment and a subsidiarity clause to demonstrate that the institutional, legal and financial framework of the Member State have been respected and that the relevant partners have been consulted.

Amendment 58

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 d (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2d
Specific objectives of the ESF
1. The European Social Fund shall support the following specific objectives:
(a) improving access to the labour market for all, in particular inactive people, long-term unemployed, young people, people in vulnerable situations facing multiple or structural barriers to accessing the labour market and persons with disabilities or chronic diseases, including through activation measures, the implementation of the European Youth Guarantee, the prevention of long-term unemployment, and the promotion of quality employment, and fair, safe, healthy working conditions, as well as through the promotion of self-employment and social economy;
(b) modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs, facilitate reskilling linked to economic and sectoral change, and ensure timely and tailor-made support to workers and jobseekers for labour market matching, career transitions and professional mobility, notably through lifelong learning, in particular flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, regarding notably entrepreneurial and digital skills (335g), taking account of the social and territorial effects, especially in the context of the green, energy, digital and demographic transitions;
(c) enhancing labour supply and employability by improving the quality, inclusiveness and relevance for the labour market of education and training systems, from early childhood care to adult education and training, including vocational education and training, general and higher education, pathways to reintegration into education and training, second chance education, mentoring, recognition of formal, non-formal and informal learning, dual-training systems and apprenticeships and the promotion of lifelong learning; and promoting equal access to and completion of quality and inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups, including facilitating learning mobility for all and accessibility for persons with disabilities;
(d) promoting a gender-balanced labour market participation, equal pay and working conditions, balanced participation in the labour market, family support and a better work-life balance, in particular through access to affordable and quality childcare and care for dependent persons;
(e) preventing and reducing precarious employment and labour market segmentation, and supporting the adaptation of workers, entrepreneurs and enterprises to change, including active and healthy ageing, and a healthy and well-adapted working environment that addresses health risks notably mental health issues;
(f) promoting active inclusion, equal opportunities and non-discrimination for the most deprived persons, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, origin or ethnicity, fostering active participation, addressing poverty and supporting the socio-economic integration of disadvantaged groups, third-country nationals and marginalised communities;
(g) enhancing equal, timely and effective access to affordable, sustainable and high-quality services and the related social infrastructure, including housing and mobility, but also health, long-term care, services for the elderly, and early childhood education and care; modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection, with a particular focus on children, families in need and disadvantaged groups; improving accessibility including for persons with disabilities, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;
(h) combating poverty and social exclusion, homelessness and the most serious forms of material deprivation through food and/or basic material assistance combined with accompanying measures to support social inclusion of the most deprived persons, with particular attention to fighting child poverty through the Child Guarantee, as referred to in Article 6 of this Regulation;
(i) supporting social dialogue, collective bargaining and capacity building of the social partners and civil society organisations, including creative industry, and enhancing the role of culture in social cohesion, as well as targeted actions in territories facing major economic or industrial restructuring;
(j) tackling depopulation and supporting territories facing demographic change, by strengthening the resilience and long-term attractiveness of local communities, notably through quality employment, access to sustainable affordable housing, social and care infrastructure, essential public services and a better work-life balance, so as to enable people, in particular young people and families, to settle and remain in the areas concerned;
(k) supporting the most vulnerable populations and preventing the long-term entrenchment of illicit economies such as drug trafficking within territories, in particular through active support for employment, access to affordable housing, social [infrastructure and support and the safe relocation of affected people and families;
2. Where strictly necessary as a temporary measure to respond to exceptional or unusual circumstances as referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, and limited to a period of 18 months, the ESF may support:
(a) the financing of short-time work schemes without the requirement that they be combined with active measures.
(b) access to healthcare including for people who are not in imminent socio-economic vulnerability.
3. Where, upon a request submitted by the Member States concerned, the Commission finds that the conditions laid down in paragraph 2 are fulfilled, it shall adopt an implementing decision specifying the period during which the temporary additional support from the ESF is authorised.
4. The Commission shall monitor the implementation of paragraph 2 of this Article and assess whether the temporary additional support from ESF is sufficient to facilitate the use of support from the ESF in response to the exceptional or unusual circumstances. On the basis of its assessment, the Commission shall, where appropriate, make proposals for amendments to this Regulation, including on the thematic concentration requirements set out in Article 7, except the thematic concentration requirement as specified in Article 7(5) and (6).

Amendment 59

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 e (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2e
Budget
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the ESF for the period 2028 to 2034 shall be EUR 124 190 000 000 (in current prices).
2. A dedicated budget of 15% of the envelope set in paragraph 1 shall be allocated to the Child Guarantee.
3. 0,8% of the envelope set in paragraph 1 shall be allocated as additional funding for the outermost regions identified in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 on special provisions for Objective 6 in the framework of the Structural Funds in Finland, Norway and Sweden annexed to the 1994 Act of Accession.
4. A dedicated envelope under the ESF shall be allocated as targeted support for the EU’s eastern border regions, which are disproportionately affected by the economic, social and demographic consequences arising from the persistent geopolitical instability and security pressures along the Union’s eastern borders.
5. In line with the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2021/1056, a ring-fenced allocation shall be established for just transition support, to be programmed for regions most affected by decarbonisation. Allocations shall be used exclusively for supporting tailored measures for the realisation of new enterprises, upskilling and reskilling, active labour market measures, and access to relevant services, and shall be implemented in close coordination with regional and local authorities and social partners.

Amendment 60

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 f (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2f
Thematic concentration
1. Member States and, where appropriate, the Commission shall foster synergies and ensure coordination, complementarity and coherence between the ESF and other Union funds, programmes and instruments, both in the planning phase and during implementation. Member States and, where appropriate, the Commission shall optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure close cooperation between entities responsible for implementation to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions.
2. Member States shall allocate at least 5 % of their resources of the ESF strand to the implementation of the Child Guarantee through targeted actions and structural reforms to tackle child poverty under the specific objectives set out in Article 2(1)(h). Member States that had an average rate above the Union average of children of less than 18 years old at risk of poverty or social exclusion for the period between 2024 and 2026, on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10 % of their resources of the ESF strand to support targeted actions and structural reforms to tackle child poverty as set out in the first subparagraph.
3. Member States shall allocate at least 25 % of their resources of the ESF strand to the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in Article 2(1), points (f) to (h), including the promotion of the social inclusion of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and the socio-economic integration of third-country nationals.
4. Member States shall allocate at least 5 % of their resources of the ESF strand to support the most deprived persons under the specific objective set out in Article 2(1)(h). The resources allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall not be taken into account for verifying compliance with the minimum allocation set out in paragraph 3.
5. Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF strand to schemes under the Youth Guarantee, especially targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment, vocational education and training, in particular apprenticeships, and the transition from school to work, pathways to reintegrate into education or training, and second chance education. Member States that had an average rate above the Union average of young people of 15 to 29 years of age who are not in employment, education or training for the period between 2024 and 2026, on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 15% of their resources of the ESF strand for the years 2028 to 2034 to support the structural reforms and targeted actions as set out in the first subparagraph. When implementing the targeted actions referred to in this paragraph, Member States shall give priority to inactive and long-term unemployed young people and put in place targeted outreach measures.
6. Outermost regions fulfilling the conditions set out in the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 shall allocate at least 15% of their ESF programme to the targeted actions as set out in paragraph 5.
7. Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF strand to the development of skills, employment activation and self-employment measures, education and training, measures supporting work-life balance, and employer incentives to support workforce training, as well as other family support or demographic transition measures, including access to services, under the specific objectives set out in Article 2(1)(a) to (g).
8. Paragraphs 2 to 7 of this Article shall not apply to the specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions referred to in Article 2c(1) and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.
9. Paragraphs 2 to 7 shall not apply to technical assistance.
10. Where relevant, the priorities referred to in this Article may be implemented through integrated and place-based approaches, including integrated territorial investments (ITI) and community-led local development (CLLD), as referred to in Articles 75 and 76 of Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation], in order to maximise their impact and their relevance to local needs.
11. Member States and regions shall, where appropriate, establish an integrated approach to address the challenges stemming from the demographic transition and implement the priorities referred to in Article 2(1)(j).

Amendment 61

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 g (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article2g
Co-financing rates
1. The resources under the Child Guarantee, the Youth Guarantee and the support for addressing material deprivation referred to in Article 2(1), points (a) and (h), and Article 6 shall be programmed under a dedicated priority. The Union co-financing rate for the dedicated priorities or, where relevant, programmes or chapters addressing material deprivation shall be 90 %. The Union co-financing rate for the Child Guarantee and the Youth Guarantee dedicated priorities shall be increased by 10 percentage points above the co-financing rate applicable, not exceeding 90 %.
2. In disadvantaged areas characterised by a rate of economic activity, unemployment or poverty that differs significantly and persistently from the average of the NUTS level 2 or 3 region in which they are located, the Union co-financing rate for priorities specifically designed to improve the effective, fair and quality access to basic social services, especially health, education and housing, may be increased above the co-financing rate applicable, not exceeding 90 %, where those priorities contribute directly and substantially to equal access to essential services or to enhanced resilience of the health and education systems. The identification of these disadvantaged areas, together with the justification thereof on the basis of the criteria set out therein, shall be included in the regional and national chapters referred to in Article 2a (new). The Commission shall verify, in close coordination with competent national and regional authorities, in the context of the approval of those ESF chapters, that the identification and increase of the cofinancing rate of the area affected is duly justified on the basis of the most recent available regional statistics as well as on relevant social and economic indicators. The managing authority shall report on the application of the increased co-financing rate and on the results achieved in terms of access to basic services in the areas concerned in the annual implementation report.
3. ESF projects in the outermost regions shall benefit from a minimum Union co-financing rate of 85 %, which may increase up to 100 % where the projects address the specific permanent handicaps recognised in Article 349 TFEU, in particular remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate and economic dependence on a few products.

Amendment 62

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 h (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 2h
Eligibility
1. The following costs shall not be eligible for support from the ESF:
(a) the purchase of land and real estate as well as infrastructure; and
(b) the purchase of furniture, equipment and vehicles, except where such purchase is necessary for achieving the objective of the operation, or those items are fully depreciated during the operation, or the purchase of those items is the most economic option.
2. Contributions in kind in the form of allowances or salaries disbursed by a third party for the benefit of the participants in an operation may be eligible provided that the contributions in kind are incurred in accordance with national rules, including accountancy rules, and do not exceed the cost borne by the third party.
3. The specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 shall be used to support the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 2d (new).
4. Direct staff costs shall be eligible if they are in line with the beneficiary’s usual remuneration practice for the category of function concerned or in line with applicable national law, collective agreements or official statistics.
5. ESF support shall be conditional on effective compliance with international labour and social standards, including with the relevant Union and national labour laws and collective agreements.
6 . Where support is provided for investments aimed at developing defence industry skills and production capacities for key components for the Union’s strategic sectors and technologies, Member States shall take into account, to the extent possible, the criteria set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2021/697 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the eligibility rules set out in Article 16 of Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 and the eligibility rules set out in Regulation XX [Industrial Accelerator Act].

Amendment 63

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, including actions of strengthening bottom-up approaches based on partnerships, in particular with the aim of testing, evaluating and scaling up innovative solutions, including at the local, regional, or national level, and in the framework of cross-border cooperation, in order to address social needs in partnership with the relevant partners and, in particular, social partners, civil society organisations, social enterprises, the private sectors in particular SMEs, vocational education institutions and public authorities, including regions. Social innovation support measures under the ESF should be used to test, develop and evaluate new models of intervention at individual, family, community and institutional level, favouring integrated, preventive and territorialised approaches that can be replicated and scaled up on the basis of the results obtained. Particular attention shall be paid to territories facing demographic decline, social exclusion and limited access to services, taking into account the scale, administrative capacity and governance structures of the Member States.

Amendment 64

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1a) Support for social innovation shall include measures promoting innovative solutions to persistent and growing problems, such as insufficient response capacity in the field of long-term care. It shall also address new and complex phenomena, such as increased use and trafficking of drugs, including synthetic drugs.

Amendment 65

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1b) Furthermore, social innovation supported by the ESF should seek to achieve measurable outcomes in terms of employment, social inclusion and skills development.

Amendment 66

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, 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.

Amendment 67

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Member States and regions shall, where appropriate, set out an integrated approach to addressing challenges stemming from the demographic transition in one or more dedicated chapters of the National Regional and Partnership Plan.Member States and regions shall, where appropriate, set out an integrated approach to addressing challenges stemming from the demographic transition through the ESF support in particular in rural areas, regions in transition and regions particularly affected by transformation. This specific support from the ESF should be in line with the freedom to stay principle and it may be complemented with the additional support ringfenced for rural areas in the Regulation (EU) [NRP Plan Regulation]. Member States and regions shall in particular support measures to safeguard services of general interest, such as education, health, long-term care and housing, to improve labour market participation and to attract skilled workers, and to improve human and social capital to foster the regions’ attractiveness and living conditions. Support could be targeted to specific territories, depending on the needs identified by Member States and regions, through the use of integrated territorial investments, community-led local development or other integrated place-based strategies and place-based instruments.

Amendment 68

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1) Member States may provide support for addressing material deprivation through the distribution of food and goods that are in conformity with the Union law on consumer product safety.(1) Member States or the regions shall provide support for addressing material deprivation through the distribution of food and goods that are in conformity with the Union law on consumer product safety.

Amendment 69

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(2) Member States and beneficiaries shall choose the food and/or the basic material assistance on the basis of objective criteria related to the needs of the most deprived persons. The selection criteria for the food, and where appropriate for goods, shall also take into consideration climate-related and environmental aspects, in order to ensure a fair and just green transition, in particular with a view to reduction of food waste and single-use plastics. Where appropriate, the choice of the type of food to be distributed shall be made having considered their contribution to the balanced diet of the most deprived persons. The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly, for example, through vouchers or cards, in electronic or other form, provided that they can be redeemed only against food and/or basic material assistance. Support for the most deprived persons shall be additional to any social benefit that may be provided by national social systems or according to national law.(2) Member States or the regions and beneficiaries shall choose the food and/or the basic material assistance on the basis of objective criteria related to the needs of the most deprived persons. The selection criteria for the food, and where appropriate for goods, shall prioritise local and regional products and also take into consideration climate-related and environmental aspects, in order to support a fair and just green transition, in particular with a view to reduction of food waste, transport related pollution and single-use plastics, while supporting local job creation and promoting local processing, short supply chains and the development of local communities. Where appropriate, the choice of the type of food to be distributed shall be made having considered their contribution to the balanced diet of the most deprived persons. The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly, for example, through vouchers or cards, in electronic or other form, provided that they can be redeemed only against food, hygiene products and/or basic material assistance. Support for the most deprived persons shall be additional to any social benefit that may be provided by national social systems or according to national law.

Amendment 70

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(3) The Commission and Member States shall ensure that aid provided in the framework of the support for addressing material deprivation respects the dignity and prevents stigmatisation of the most deprived persons.(3) The Commission and Member States or the regions shall ensure that aid provided in the framework of the support for addressing material deprivation respects the dignity and prevents stigmatisation of the most deprived persons.

Amendment 71

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(3a) Special priority shall be given to actions aimed at addressing child poverty, e.g. to children and pupils from vulnerable families, with a view to supporting their access to education, ensuring access to healthy diets in the educational environment and preventing early school leaving, and at implementing the Child Guarantee referred to in Article 2e (new) of this Regulation, in particular through access to healthy food, essential supplies, education, childcare and extracurricular activities. Those measures may be implemented in synergy with Union instruments such as the EU school scheme, which seeks to improve children’s nutrition and reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Amendment 72

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(4) Member States shall complement the delivery of food and/or basic material assistance by accompanying measures, such as referrals to competent services or by promoting the social integration of the most deprived persons.(4) Member States or the regions shall complement the delivery of food and/or basic material assistance by accompanying measures, such as referrals to competent services or by promoting the social integration of the most deprived persons. Member States or the regions shall ensure that such actions are not limited to ad hoc assistance but are part of an integrated approach to achieve the social inclusion of the groups concerned, in particular through measures promoting access to basic social services, mental health and psychological care, training, jobs and housing, while respecting the dignity of the beneficiaries. These measures shall include funding the additional transport costs required, in particular in the case of the outermost regions, preventing material deprivation from being exacerbated by isolation or transportation costs.

Amendment 73

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 6a
Support for social inclusion, accessibility and deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities
(1) Member States shall provide support for the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
(2) Member States shall make use of funding to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities, including in terms of information and communication technologies, and to support independent living and inclusion in the community for persons with disabilities.
(3) Member States shall mobilise the ESF to support national strategic frameworks for deinstitutionalisation, and to finalise the deinstitutionalisation process by fostering and supporting the transition from residential or institutional care to independent living, and family or community-based care.

Amendment 74

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 6b
Support for youth employment
Support for youth employment shall be programmed under a dedicated ESF Chapter and it shall at least include support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 2d (new), paragraph 1, points a) and c) and may include support contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 2d (new), paragraph 1, points f) and h).

Amendment 75

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 6c
Support for regions in industrial transition
Member States and regions shall, where appropriate, include specific support measures for regions in industrial transition, and in particular former mining and peat regions and other regions affected by industrial restructuring or significant job losses due to the decarbonisation of industry. Allocations shall be used exclusively for supporting tailored measures for the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, digital skills, active labour market measures, access to relevant services, and the creation of new sustainable economic and industrial opportunities. Those measures shall be implemented in close coordination with regional and local authorities and social partners.

Amendment 76

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 d (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 6d
Support for relevant country-specific recommendations
(1) The actions addressing the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations and in the European Semester shall be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in Article 2b (1) to support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and under one or more priorities, which can be a multi-fund priority.

Amendment 77

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 7Article 7
PartnershipPartnership
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].1. When implementing the ESF, each Member State or region shall organise and implement multi-level governance and a comprehensive partnership in accordance with its institutional, financial and legal framework, ensuring the effective, structured and continuous involvement of local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society organisations at all stages of the ESF chapter’s cycle.
2. The comprehensive partnership referred to in paragraph 1 shall include a balanced representation of the following partners:
(a) competent regional, local, and other urban and rural public authorities or associations representing such authorities in the fields of employment, education, training, skills, health and social inclusion policies.
(b) economic and social partners, including nationally recognised social partners’ organisations, general cross-industry organisations and sectoral organisations, whose sectors are related to the use of EU Structural Funds, and business associations representing the general interest of industries, together with representatives of the social economy;
(c) relevant bodies representing civil society organisations, including youth organisations, NGOs, education and vocational training institutions and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, rights of persons with disabilities, fundamental rights, gender equality and non-discrimination.
(d) research organisations and universities, where appropriate.
3. The partnership shall cover in particular:
(a) preparation and revision of the national and regional ESF chapters;
(b) definition of priorities and financial allocations; (c) contribution to the selection, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations;
(d) participation in monitoring committees;
(e) evaluation of results and mid-term review.
4. The social partners shall be involved in a balanced and meaningful way in the design and implementation of the priorities relating to employment, skills, working conditions and social dialogue. Their participation shall be organised in such a way as to guarantee the independence and autonomy of social dialogue, in accordance with Article 152 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
5. Where regional or local authorities have competences in the areas covered by the ESF, they shall participate in the governance and implementation of the relevant priorities, including through place-based approaches such as integrated territorial investments (ITI) and community-led local development (CLLD), aimed at improving e.g. access to employment, housing, education, healthcare, mobility and digital connectivity.
6. Member States shall ensure that the partners referred to in paragraph 2 have the necessary administrative and financial capacity to participate effectively in the implementation of the ESF. To that end, they shall allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF to capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations.
7. The Commission shall ensure, in the structured dialogue with the Member States, effective respect for the partnership principle, and may make recommendations where the participation of partners does not meet the requirements of this article.

Amendment 78

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 7a
Authorities in charge of the implementation
1. The ESF shall be planned and implemented by Member States and their regions, at the most relevant institutional level, respecting the principle of subsidiarity and multilevel governance, according to the institutional and organisational arrangements and practices of the Member State concerned.
2. Member States [and regions] shall establish and maintain dedicated managing authorities for European Social Fund programmes, in order to ensure continuity, expertise and strategic depth in implementation.
3. Each European Social Fund national or regional chapter shall set up a Committee to monitor the implementation of the programme (‘monitoring committee’), in accordance with the partnership principle established in article 7.
The monitoring committee shall approve:
(a) the methodology and criteria used for the selection of operations, including any changes thereto; at the request of the Commission, the methodology and criteria used for the selection of operations, including any changes thereto, shall be submitted to the Commission at least 15 working days prior to their submission to the monitoring committee;
(b) the evaluation plan and any amendment thereto;
(c) any proposal by the managing authority for the amendment of a programme.

Amendment 79

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 7b
Horizontal principles
1. Member States and the Commission shall ensure respect for fundamental rights, including compliance with relevant international labour and social standards and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union when implementing the ESF. Those minimum safeguards are without prejudice to the application of more stringent requirements relating to the environment, health, safety and social sustainability provided for in Union law, where applicable.
2. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that gender equality and integration of the gender perspective are respected and promoted throughout the preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the ESF. They shall support participation of women in employment, promote work-life balance, combat poverty disproportionately affecting women and tackle gender disparities in the labour market and in education and training.
3. The Commission and the Member States shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination based on gender, origin or ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during the preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of ESF programmes.
4. Member States shall ensure the effective examination of complaints related to the implementation of the ESF. This is without prejudice to the general possibility of citizens and stakeholders to address complaints to the Commission.
5. Where the Commission finds that there has been an infringement, it shall take into account the gravity of the infringement in its determination of the corrective measures to be applied.

Amendment 80

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1) The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU (‘the ESF Committee’) with regard to the support provided for the general objective referred to in Article 3(1), point (c) [specific objective – employment] of Regulation XX [NRP Plan].(1) The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU (‘the ESF Committee’) with regard to the support provided for the general objective referred to in Article 1a (new) of this Regulation.

Amendment 81

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(2) Each Member State shall appoint one government representative, one representative of the workers’ organisations, one representative of the employers’ organisations and one alternate for each member for a maximum period of seven years. In the absence of a member, the alternate shall be automatically entitled to take part in the proceedings. The Committee shall also include one representative from each of the organizations representing workers’ organisations and employers’ organisations at Union level.(2) Each Member State shall appoint one government representative, one representative of each of the local and regional authorities responsible for implementing measures under the ESF, one representative of the workers’ organisations, one representative of the employers’ organisations, representatives of civil society organisations and one alternate for each member for a maximum period of seven years. In the absence of a member, the alternate shall be automatically entitled to take part in the proceedings. The Committee shall also include one representative from each of the organizations representing workers’ organisations and employers’ organisations at Union level.

Amendment 82

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(3) The Committee may deliver opinions on any issues regarding the implementation of the ESF.(3) The Commission may request the Committee to deliver opinions on issues regarding the programming and implementation of the ESF. Before delivering the opinions, the Committee may consult with civil society and NGOs involved in social services and innovation and shall integrate the feed-back received in those opinions.
Annex: declaration of input 1 paragraph

The rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not include in her opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

Procedure pages

How the committees handled the text, and how their members voted on it.

Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 paragraph
TitleEstablishing 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
ReferencesCOM(2025)0558 – C10-0172/2025 – 2025/0239(COD)
Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenaryEMPL 23.10.2025
Opinion by Date announced in plenaryREGI 23.10.2025
Rapporteur for opinion Date appointedNora Mebarek 16.1.2026
Discussed in committee6.5.20262.6.2026
Date adopted15.7.2026
Result of final vote+: –: 0:32 1 5
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 paragraphs

32 · For

ECR
Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Francesco Ventola
EPP
Pascal Arimont, Fredis Beleris, Daniel Buda, Christian Doleschal, Krzysztof Hetman, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Andrey Novakov, Marion Walsmann, Marta Wcisło, Iuliu Winkler
Renew
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly
S&D
Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Dragoş Benea, Klára Dobrev, Sérgio Gonçalves, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere, Georgia Tramacere
The Left
Kathleen Funchion, Younous Omarjee, Valentina Palmisano
Greens
Rasmus Andresen, Cristina Guarda, Vladimir Prebilič

1 · Against

ESN
Irmhild Boßdorf

5 · Abstained

Patriots
Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Valérie Deloge, Tamás Deutsch, Fabrice Leggeri, André Rougé