05/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) gave the green light (50 votes in favour, 2 against, 2 abstentions) on Thursday 4 March to an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the European Social Fund plus (ESF+). The text is due to be submitted to the plenary session in May or June. By way of a reminder, the co-legislators had agreed to earmark 25% of available funds (€88 billion in 2018 prices) for social inclusion. In addition to this 25%, 3% of the funds with a European cofinancing rate of 90% will be set aside for basic food and material aid. 5% of the funds will be used in the fight against child poverty for the most affected Member States, and 12.5% used for young people in countries with a high rate of unemployed or untrained young people (see EUROPE 12647/15). (PH)