What is the future of social funding under the next MFF?

Join the EUFunds4Social Coalition's launch at the European Parliament to discuss the future of European social funding.

The EUFunds4Social Coalition invites you to their launch event, hosted at the European Parliament by MEPs Estelle Ceulemans (S&D) and Maravillas Abadía Jover (EPP).

As negotiations advance on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, key decisions will determine whether the EU budget continues to provide strong and accountable support for social inclusion and territorial cohesion.

The event will:

Present the EUFunds4Social Coalition and its key demands.
Explore how current amount and guarantees to social funding can be preserved in the next EU budget, and outreach to small beneficiaries improved.
Identify red lines and priority safeguards for Parliament and Council.
Bring real, grounded evidence from managing authorities and beneficiaries about why these funds matter.
Strengthen structured dialogue between MEPs and co-legislators.

Confirmed speakers include representatives of the European Commission, national manging authorities of funds, human rights defenders, beneficiaries, and MEPs.

Agenda

18:30	Welcome and Political Framing Estelle Ceulemans, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Maravillas Inmaculada Abadía Jover, Member of the European Parliament, EPP Thomas Bignal, President, Social Services Europe
18:40	The EUFund4Social Coalition position on the EU budget proposal Moderator:Réka Tunyogy, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Social Platform Irene Bertana, Head of Policy, European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) Javier Güemes, Director of International Relations, Fundación ONCE Lisa Schüler, Head of EU Office, Caritas Germany Michel Van Den Borne, Coordinator Fabruka, Solidarité des Alternatives Wallones et Bruxelloises
19:00	How can we maximise the EU budget for social and territorial investment? Moderator: Estelle Ceulemans, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Ruth Paserman, Director DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Pilar Sáenz de Ormijana, Spanish Counsellor Benedict Wauters, Director, European Social Fund Department in the Flemish Ministry of Labour, Economy, Science, Innovation and Social Economy Andor Urmos, Co-founder, Bridge EU Marit Maij, Member of the European Parliament and European Social Fund regulation co-rapporteur, S&D
19:50	Closing Remarks Sarah De Heusch, Director, Social Economy Europe

About the Coalition

The EUFunds4Social Coalition brings together European social services, NGOs, public health and service providers, lifelong learning and social economy actors, workers, and social partners. Together, we represent millions of organisations, enterprises, and people, of which those most excluded in society. Since March 2025, our joint statements have been endorsed by over 60 European networks and over 350 organisations overall, to ensure social investment is strengthened, not weakened, in the next EU budget. Our 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.

Joint Statements:

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