The upcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 represents a decisive opportunity to reinforce the European Union’s commitment to social inclusion and equity. In order to ensure that it delivers on the EU’s Social Agenda, Social Services Europe alongside 13 international organisations has developed and endorsed a paper with 5 key recommendations for EU policy and decision-making.
This joint paper, “Ensuring the next Social Fund (2028-34) is fit to implement the EU’s Social Agenda: Social Services’ Key Messages for the Next EU Multiannual Financial Framework", provides a blueprint to strengthen social services and enhance their capacity to address evolving societal challenges.
A Call for a Social Fund with an adequate budget, priorities and with an effective governance structure
We identify five key recommendations to optimise the structure:
1. Establish an adequate and dedicated social fund to fully implement the European Pillar of Social Rights: The future Social Fund should encourage investments: an earmarking of at least 25% - for social inclusion in line with the principles and objectives of the Active Inclusion Approach, applying a holistic approach to inclusion.
2. Facilitate access for not-for-profit organisations and local services providers: Promote equitable access to EU funds by addressing barriers faced by smaller and community-based not-for-profit organisations like increasing the EU’s pre- and co-financing rates for projects pursuing social inclusion objectives to, at least 80%, and earmarking 25% of funds specifically for their use.
3. Enhance capacity building of social services to access funding: Reserve a budget in the future ESF+ for technical assistance support to set up a network of national helpdesks in order to effectively deliver the training, guidance, practice-sharing and support to organisations on-the-ground.
4. Simplify processes for beneficiaries: Streamline administrative procedures to ensure that simplification measures directly benefit the organisations and individuals who depend on EU funds.
5. Anchor funds in social and human rights principles: Align EU funding priorities with established human rights frameworks, ensuring investments meet the needs of marginalised groups and ensure quality care provision through renewed conditions set for their use which apply to all resilience and cohesion funds.
Why This Framework is important for Social Services
Social services are indispensable to the realisation of the EU’s Social Agenda, and critical challenges such as structural underfunding, workforce shortages, and the increasing demand for innovative high-quality care solutions need to be addressed. By enacting these recommendations, the EU can support more effectively the creation of a resilient and inclusive society, strengthen its social fabric, and uphold its commitment to equity and human rights.
Next steps
In collaboration with our 13 partners, the signatory partners will continue to proactively engage with policymakers at EU-level and in the EU Member States to influence the initial proposals expected from the European Commission by mid-2025. Following this, we will monitor the negotiation process and collaborate with key stakeholders to advocate for a budget that supports the availability, affordability and accessibility of quality social and support services so that everyone in the EU has access to the right support, can enjoy their rights, and is included in the community.
Support the dissemination
Explore the joint paper here and support us in disseminating it.
For more information, consult the Social Services Helpdesk Project in which SSE was a partner and this joint paper largely reflects its outcomes.