Joint statement: Keep What Works: a strong ESF+ l FEBEA

Joint statement: Keep What Works: 8 Success Factors for a Future ESF+

As the ESF+ appears to be questioned in the new Commission’s plans, Social Economy organizations unite to call for stronger support.

July 10, 2025

Type:

Policy Paper

Tags:

ESF+, MFF

More info:

Share this post:

Summary

FEBEA is joining the statement “Keep What Works: 8 Success Factors for a Future ESF+,” alongside leading European social economy and civil society organizations. This statement calls on EU institutions to ensure that the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) remains a central and robust instrument in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework.

The joint statement highlights eight key success factors:

guaranteeing funding for quality jobs and social targets;
maintaining multi-level governance and a bottom-up approach;
simplifying and increasing flexibility for beneficiaries;
supporting local and social economy initiatives;
ensuring enabling conditions grounded in EU priorities and rights;
upholding the partnership principle for transparency and effective targeting;
dedicating funding to local and proximity initiatives;
and investing in long-term systemic reforms and capacity development.

Together, these elements are essential to advancing social inclusion, reducing inequalities, and building a competitive, sustainable, and socially cohesive Europe that leaves no one behind.

Signing organizations:

European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)
European Network of Social Integrations Enterprises (ENSIE)
Social Services Europe (SSE)
Social Economy Europe (SEE)
Social Platform
European Public Service Union (EPSU)
Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP)
Association de Recherche et de Formation sur l’Insertion en Europe / Association for
Research and Training on Integration in Europe (ARFIE)
Autism Europe
CEC – Acting for Social inclusion
European Confederation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives (CECOP)
COFACE Families Europe
Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives and Cooperatives (CEFEC)
Diesis Network
European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)
Eurocarers
Eurochild
Eurodiaconia
European Ageing Network (EAN)
European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB)
European Council for Non Profit Organisations (CEDAG)
European Disability Forum (EDF)
European Federation for Family Employment and Home Care (EFFE)
European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA)
European Microfinance Network (EMN)
European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES aisbl)
European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR)
ERGO Network
European Students‘ Union
European Youth Forum
European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA)
Housing Europe

Inclusion Europe
International Step by Step Alliance (ISSA)
Lumos
Make Mothers Matter (MMM)
Mental Health Europe
Microfinance Centre (MFC)
Philea – Philantropy Europe Association
Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
RREUSE – Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises
Samaritan International
Save the Children
SOLIDAR