We join European Civil Society Call to Protect and Strengthen the ESF+ [editar]
European civil society organisations, including Fundación Secretariado Gitano, are calling for the defence of the European Social Fund by jointly signing and circulating a statement entitled ‘Building on what works: an EU budget that meets the needs of people and regions’.
This joint declaration has been signed by a coalition of more than 40 European civil society organisations and social service networks, with the aim of urging EU policymakers to build on proven approaches when designing the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period after 2027. Coordinated by the European Association of Service Providers for People with Disabilities, the statement highlights the importance of preserving and strengthening the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) as the cornerstone of social investment in Europe.
Tthe European Social Fund (ESF) has played a key role as the main financial instrument for promoting active inclusion, access to employment and improved living conditions for the Roma in Spain. For over 25 years, FSG has worked continuously on the design and implementation of ESF-funded programmes on education, employment, gender equality and non-discrimination, making a significant contribution to generating data that helps determine which policies and approaches are effective. This proven track record strengthens our position when advocating for a strong and specific ESF, with its own distinct identity, within the future financial framework. Over the last few decades, the European Union’s cohesion policy has proven to be a key instrument for promoting equal opportunities, social inclusion and the fight against poverty, particularly for the most vulnerable groups, including the Roma.
The signing of this document is therefore in line with our strategic position of ensuring that the European Social Fund will continue as a one-stand independent fund to prioritise social investment on most disadvantated groups such as Roma, avoiding any dilution of this approach in futureMFF It is essential to ensure that the next period maintains sufficient, predictable and results-oriented funding in the areas of social inclusion, employment, education and the fight against discrimination.
The document outlines eight key success factors that have made the ESF+ an effective instrument in promoting employment, social inclusion, and equal opportunities across Member States. These include guaranteed funding for social priorities, strong partnership principles involving regional and local actors, earmarked resources for vulnerable groups, and simplified procedures to ensure accessibility for beneficiaries.
The statement reflects a broad and diverse coalition, including organisations such as the Social Platform, the European Disability Forum, Eurochild and the European Anti-Poverty Network, amongst many others representing social services, education providers, trade unions and the social economy sector.
The joint statement comes at a critical juncture, as debates on the future EU budget intensify and concerns grow over potential changes that could weaken specific social funding instruments and, more broadly, the European social model. Through this initiative, the signatory organisations aim to influence upcoming legislative proposals and negotiations by providing recommendations based on empirical data and grounded in past successes. The declaration emphasises that maintaining specific funding sources, ensuring multi-level governance and strengthening accountability mechanisms are essential to achieving the EU’s social objectives.
At Fundación Secretariado Gitano, we are actively working to safeguard the future of the ESF on various fronts. Among these, FSG’s active participation in cooperation and coordination forums at European level stands out; as does the work carried out by EURoma, a network in which FSG acts as Technical Secretariat and which brings together the managing authorities of European funds (ESF+ and ERDF) and National Roma Contact Points from 15 Member States. Through this joint work, we contribute to convey to European institutions the importance of maintaining a specific approach, based on empirical data and accumulated experience.
