68 EU networks unite on next EU budget

Home » Global » 68 EU networks unite on next EU budget
  • March 17, 2026
The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) launches today a joint statement on the next EU Budget, endorsed by 68 European networks and 288 national organisations from 32 countries. Together, the EUFunds4Social coalition calls on the European institutions to safeguard and strengthen a standalone European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

 

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the EU’s seven-year budget. Its current framework sets the spending priorities and ceilings for close to €2 trillion from 2021-2027. The two most relevant programmes for employment, education and social inclusion are the European Social Fund + and the European Regional Development Fund; which invests hundreds of millions each year into the inclusion of persons with disabilities. With the current framework coming to an end in 2027, the European Commission published last summer its proposals for the next 7-year programming 2028-2034. The highlight was a radical change to EU Funding, merging several funding streams (including ESF+ and ERDF) under National and Regional Partnership Plans. Both the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament are now negotiating their own positions on the Commission proposals.

To influence this process, the EUFunds4Social Coalition was set-up to bring the perspective of those who will ultimately be transforming funding into concrete initiatives for people across Europe, especially those most excluded. The Coalition now publishes its fourth joint statement. Launching the Joint Statement, Thomas Bignal, Secretary General of EASPD, highlights:

“the European Commission is right to want to make the biggest impact with the EU’s budget by focusing on big and strategic reforms. From our experience, the EU Budget is at its best when strategic priorities are set at European level, but the programmes themselves are adapted to regional needs. We already have a model for that: ESF+ and ERDF. Let’s build on what works, not overhaul a broadly successful system”.

 

Irene Bertana, Head of Policy EASPD, who also coordinates the EUFunds4Social Coalition, said:

“local and Regional authorities rely on the ESF+ and ERDF to fund social initiatives, including improving access to employment, education and training, and reaching out to those who need it the most. The EU Commission’s current proposal has less guaranteed funding for these initiatives, no earmarking for those most excluded, and risks that the EU budget becomes a bargaining chip between central and regional authorities. This is why we call for ESF+ and ERDF as strong, independent, and protected programmes.”

 

In more technical terms, the statement, endorsed by 356 organisations, including 68 European networks, calls on the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to:

  • Secure strong and dedicated budgets for ESF and ERDF, at least equal to current budgetary funding levels adjusted for inflation, and provided as grants;
  • Maintain the ESF as the EU’s core instrument for people-centred investment, aligned with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, and the Social Economy Action Plan;
  • Preserve current ESF earmarking for social inclusion, child poverty, material deprivation, youth employment, and capacity-building for civil society and social partners;
  • Strengthen and mainstream the partnership principle across all EU funds, including direct funds, ensuring meaningful participation of social actors at all levels of governance;
  • Reinstate and enforce enabling conditions to ensure EU investments uphold fundamental rights and support implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
  • Improve access for small not-for-profit actors through simpler procedures, lighter reporting requirements, stable pre-financing, adequate co-financing, and national helpdesks.

 

The EUFunds4Social Coalition brings together European social services, NGOs, public health and service providers, lifelong learning and social economy actors, workers, and social partners. It represents millions of organisations, enterprises, and people, including those most excluded in society. Since March 2025, its actions aim to ensure social investment is strengthened, not weakened, in the next EU budget. The priority is ensuring that higher social spending is secured, and resources earmarked in particular for supporting the inclusion of disadvantaged people through the next EU budget. Read the full statement here.

Support Documents