• Funding of Social Services

€100 billion for social spending? The devil’s in the details, warn 52 European Networks

EASPD and 51 European networks warn that the EU’s next budget may fall short of its ambitions to help deliver a fairer, more inclusive Europe

The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and 51 European networks warn that the EU’s next budget may fall short of its ambitions to help deliver a fairer, more inclusive Europe. Following the initial proposals of the next budget by the European Commission, the coalition has released the Joint Statement “100 billion Euros for social spending? The devil’s in the details” providing their assessment of the proposal based on their 8 success factors set out in July 2025.

 The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the EU’s long-term budget, setting spending priorities and ceilings for a seven-year period. It is the key instrument to turn the EU’s political commitments into concrete investments, from social inclusion and employment to green and digital transitions. The current MFF (2021–2027) includes the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which has been the EU’s backbone for social investment, supporting millions of people into jobs, education, and community life. The Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 MFF introduces a new structure, the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), which aim to bring several funding streams, including the ESF+, together under national frameworks.

Following the publication of this proposal, EASPD, together with partners, has assessed it against the eight identified success factors for a future European Social Fund Plus.

“In September, President von der Leyen announced the EU’s ambition to help eradicate poverty by 2050” said Thomas Bignal, Secretary General of EASPD. “In simple terms, from our collective assessment, the budget proposed does not match that ambition. Disability support organisations expect reliable, guaranteed, simplified funds to help them deliver better support to the millions of people with disabilities, and public and privates sectors they support. This Joint Statement shows that many others agree. We now have two years ahead of us to –collectively- convince EU policy-makers to make the changes needed to make sure that its budget matches its ambitions. The positive news is that we do feel there is interest in listening to our proposals.”

 The joint statement, titled “100 billion Euros for social spending? The devil’s in the details,” finds that these proposed NRPPs risk being a step backwards for Europe’s social policies. Among the main concerns:

  • The loss of a dedicated ESF+ budget line,  replaced by a 14% “social spending” target, which would mean less guaranteed funding spread across more investment areas;
  • A shift toward centralised national planning, weakening regional participation and civil society involvement;
  • The elimination of minimum earmarks for social inclusion, child poverty, and material deprivation, which means no more guarantees for investment into initiatives for excluded or disadvantaged groups;
  • The removal of enabling conditions, which previously ensured that Member States had effective strategies and safeguards in place before EU money was spent, now leaving investments less accountable and potentially less effective.

The coalition calls for stronger safeguards, dedicated social funding, and empowered local actors to ensure the EU’s social ambitions translate into real impact on the ground. To achieve this, the coalition urges the European Commission and Member States to:

  • Increase and not dilute social spending, ensuring that the EU’s commitment to people remains a top priority, with safeguard dedicated funding for social inclusion, the fight against child poverty, and support for those most at risk of material deprivation;
  • Strengthen binding safeguards and monitoring linking investments to EU-wide social policy objectives;
  • Empower regional and local actors through meaningful partnerships that make EU funds responsive to real community needs.

The statement is endorsed by 52 European networks representing social services, civil society organisations, trade unions, education and lifelong learning providers, and the social economy. Together, they speak for thousands of organisations across Europe working every day to reduce poverty, promote inclusion, and strengthen social rights.

The coalition stands ready to discuss and co-create solutions with the European institutions and Member States to help the EU have a budget to help meet its 2030 and 2050 poverty reduction targets, and to ensure that no one in Europe is left behind.

Read the full statement here. 

Supporting Documents.

For more information, please contact:
Irene Bertana, Senior Policy Officer and EU Parliament Liaison, EASPD

Note to editors:

The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is the leading voice of disability services across Europe. Representing over 20,000 services in 50 different countries, we promote human rights and equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality support.

Our work focuses on key areas essential to quality support provision. This includes Inclusive Living, Employment, Education, Early Childhood Intervention, Person-Centred Technology, Workforce Development and Human Resources, Arts, Culture & Sport, and Policy Impact.

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