The CEC has joined forces with a coalition of 52 European networks to raise concerns over the European Commission’s new proposal for the EU’s long-term budget. While the €100 billion promised for social spending may seem ambitious, the coalition’s analysis shows that the proposal risks delivering less support for social inclusion and poverty reduction than the current Cohesion Policy framework.
The proposal removes key safeguards that previously protected investments in people:
- No dedicated budget line for the European Social Fund
- No earmarking for social inclusion or the Child Guarantee
- Reduced influence of regional and local actors
- No binding direction on how Member States should allocate social spending
As a result, funding for social rights, local initiatives, and vulnerable communities could become weaker, more fragmented, and increasingly dependent on national priorities rather than EU-wide commitments. Inflation and broader eligibility of expenses also mean that real investment in people may shrink, despite the headline figure.
While the new framework does offer flexibility, without binding guarantees, Member States unwilling to prioritise social inclusion could continue doing the bare minimum.
Together with its partners in the coalition, CEC is calling for:
- Guaranteed funding for social inclusion and child poverty
- Stronger safeguards and monitoring to link investments to EU social goals
- Empowerment of local and regional actors to ensure community-level impact
The European Pillar of Social Rights cannot be realised with diluted funding and weak accountability. With the right adjustments, however, this budget could still be a powerful tool to reduce inequalities and build a more inclusive Europe.
Read the full joint statement here
