As negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) advance, social investment risks losing its dedicated place in the EU budget. The proposed MFF provides no direct successor to the Social Investment and Skills Window. Instead, support for social investment could be channelled through the EU Facility, where it would compete with other priorities within an instrument designed for flexibility and crisis response rather than structural, long-term investment. Without a dedicated framework, the social economy risks losing an essential financing mechanism, limiting access to finance for specialised intermediaries and weakening territorial cohesion, resilience and the implementation of key EU social policies.

Embedding a dedicated Social Investment and Skills Window within the European Competitiveness Fund, alongside well-designed financial instruments, proportionate reporting requirements and accessible guarantees for specialised intermediaries, would ensure that Europe’s competitiveness is built on resilient local economies and an inclusive financial system.