Casa pushes stronger EU Social Fund with guaranteed investment to fight child poverty and social exclusion

PN Head of Delegation MEP David Casa today (May 6) presented his draft report on the future European Social Fund (ESF) in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL), calling for a stronger and more independent Social Fund with guaranteed investment for Europe’s most vulnerable communities.

Presenting the report together with co-rapporteur Marit Maij, Casa stressed that the ESF must remain a standalone programme with clear objectives, predictable funding and strong social safeguards in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

“The message from stakeholders across Europe has been clear,” Casa said during the committee debate. “Europe needs a strong Social Fund that provides certainty for beneficiaries and guarantees investment where it matters most for our citizens.”

The draft report builds on the European Parliament’s recently established ambition for a stronger and better resourced Social Fund — a position reflected in last week’s MFF interim report negotiations, to which Casa contributed — reaffirming support for a dedicated financial envelope of more than €124 billion.

Casa underlined that the report seeks to preserve and strengthen the core objectives of the current ESF+, while expanding its scope to better address disability rights, chronic illnesses and homelessness.

The report also restores ringfenced funding for key priority areas, including youth employment, the fight against social exclusion and support for the Child Guarantee.

“Flexibility cannot come at the expense of vulnerable people,” Casa said. “It cannot be the message we send to the 19.5 million children in Europe who are currently at risk of poverty and social exclusion.”

Casa also stressed the importance of ensuring that local and regional authorities, together with civil society organisations, continue to play a central role in the design and implementation of ESF-funded measures.

Casa, who served as Parliament’s rapporteur for the current ESF+ regulation during the previous legislature, said the aim is to ensure that the future fund continues delivering concrete results for citizens across Europe.

“The European Social Fund can and should continue playing a central role in building a stronger social Europe,” Casa concluded.