In a press release on Wednesday 31 October, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) criticised the proposed cut in the budget for the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The EESC reiterates its opposition to the budget cuts proposed by the European Commission for the future cohesion policy, which could mean a fall of 6% in the ESF+ budget compared to the current budget.
On the basis of an Opinion by Krzysztof Balon, the EESC objects to the proposal to eliminate the minimum mandatory share of the funds allocated to ESF+ in the next cohesion policy budget, a share that is currently fixed at 23.1%. In addition, the institution rejects the proposal aimed at reducing the rate of European co-funding for the fund.
On this basis, the EESC requests that 30% of the resources foreseen in territorial, social and economic cohesion policies should be allocated to the ESF+, but also that 30% of the ESF+ resources should be devoted to social inclusion measures (compared to 25% in the Commission’s proposal, of which 2% is for the most disadvantaged groups).
Furthermore, the EESC calls for social partners and civil society to be better integrated in the future fund and for a larger share of funding to be allocated to small, local organisations.
Such requests reflect negotiations at the European Parliament moving towards a larger budget for funding social inclusion (see EUROPE 12030).
To consult the Opinion: https://bit.ly/2DfjZHa. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)