The EUFunds4Social initiative, a coalition of 113 organisations, including Social Economy Europe, has published a letter addressed to the heads of state and government of the European Union, calling for the 2028–2034 EU budget that maintains investment in people and territories.
The coalition calls for the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund to remain protected, for €124 billion to be allocated to the former, and for the share of national funding dedicated to social objectives to be increased to 25%.
The EUFunds4Social coalition currently comprises 113 organisations, including 37 European networks and 76 national organisations from 22 countries, and continues to grow. Together, they have expressed their willingness to work with national governments, the Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament to secure a budget that meets the needs of citizens and territories. EUFunds4Social has made a document available to enable interested institutions to join the call.
The context of inequality
The call comes as European leaders discuss on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The signatories warn that social and territorial investment is essential to addressing challenges such as widening inequalities and polarisation, the disparities between urban and rural areas, an ageing population, skills shortages, youth unemployment, and the digital and climate transitions.
In this context, the coalition highlights the role of the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund in supporting quality employment, social cohesion and the protection of rights across European regions. These instruments also help strengthen the Union’s democracy and competitiveness.
More resources for social objectives
EUFunds4Social calls for the final budget to be aligned with the European Parliament’s proposal and ensure that sufficient resources are available for regions and social investment.
The initiative also calls for European funding to be earmarked for social innovation and greater support for cooperation between civil society organisations, social partners and social economy organisations.
The letter urges the inclusion of specific safeguards to protect support services for people, establish minimum spending on social inclusion and fund measures to combat child poverty, homelessness, youth unemployment and material deprivation. It also advocates making European aid conditional on respect for the rights of persons with disabilities and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Other demands include effective participation by civil society and people with direct experience of exclusion, as well as mechanisms that enable non-profit organisations to access funding in practice.
