The CEC, along with 45 prominent European networks, has co-signed the joint statement “Keep What Works: 8 Success Factors for a Future ESF+.”
As the EU’s primary tool for investing in people, the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) must remain at the heart of the next EU budget. The statement outlines eight key success factors that have made the ESF+ effective, and calls for their continued inclusion in the European Commission’s upcoming proposals:
- Guaranteed funding for employment, training, and social initiatives
- Multi-level governance through shared management between the EU and its regions
- Earmarked support for social inclusion, ensuring funds reach the most excluded groups
- Simplification and flexibility for end beneficiaries, to make EU funds more accessible
- Enabling conditions aligned with international legal and policy frameworks
- The partnership principle, ensuring funds address real local needs
- Support for local initiatives, not just large-scale projects
- A focus on long-term priorities and reforms, beyond short-term investments
For more information: JointStatement: Keep What Works
Signatories:
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 (ARFIE)
Autism-Europe (AE)
CEC – Acting for Social Inclusion
CECOP – European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives
COFACE Families Europe
Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives and Cooperatives (CEFEC)
Diesis Network
EAPN – European Anti-Poverty Network
Eurocarers
Eurochild
Eurodiaconia
European Ageing Network (EAN)
European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
European council for non-profit organisations (Comité européen des associations d’intérêt général – CEDAG)
European Disability Forum (EDF)
European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA)
European Microfinance Network (EMN)
European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES)
European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR)
European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network
European Students’ Union (ESU)
European Youth Forum
FEBEA – European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers
Inclusion Europe
Lumos
Make Mothers Matter (MMM)
Microfinance Centre (MFC)
Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
RREUSE – Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises
Samaritan International
SOLIDAR
