This year is crucial for social services' future access to EU funding, as Member States and the European Parliament negotiate the EU’s next 7-year budget, with social services funding under fire.
The European Commission wishes to radically change how EU funds will be managed after 2027, merging the European Social Fund (ESF+) with agricultural and regional funds to create a financial instrument that will finance national and regional reform plans rather than current ESF+ programmes. While 14 % of the plans shall be dedicated to social objectives, there are no clear safeguards about the allocation, and even less clarity on the involvement of social services in the drafting and implementation of those plans.
Heavily concerned with these changes, ESN strongly insists that ESF+ is kept as a separate fund with its own programming and budget to ensure that EU funds continue to support investment in social services, with earmarked budgets for social inclusion.
While the European Parliament has joined ESN’s position in its recent opinion report on the next EU budget, and some national parliaments have expressed their concerns on the Commission’s proposal (DE, CZ), EU Member States’ national governments have been less clear about their position.
It is now crucial that the European Parliament maintains its position during negotiations on the future EU budget, and EU Member States should join the European Parliament’s position. Together, they can ensure that social services remain in the focus of the future EU budget.
To that end, join us in the European Parliament on 11 June to raise your voice for social services.
- Meet decision-makers from all institutions involved in the budget negotiations (Parliament, Commission, and Member States)
- Connect with social services from across Europe that will be affected by the outcomes of the negotiations and the final setup of the new EU budget.
Confirmed speakers include:
MEP Hristo Petrov (Renew), MEP Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), MEP Gordan Bosanac (Greens/EFA), Ivan Larraza, Deputy Minister of Welfare, Regional Government of the Basque Country - Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies, Basque Country, Spain and Ruth Paserman (European Commission), among other EU stakeholders.
📍 European Parliament, Brussels
📅 11 June 2026
🕒 15:00 – 17:00
Please register by Friday 5 June (COB) (Limited spots available)
Participants need to register and arrive at the parliament one hour before the event for the security check, with their IDs.
For any other inquiry about the event please contact ines.suner@esn-eu.org
PROGRAMME
14:00 – 14:15
Gathering in front of the European Parliament (Station Europe), Retrieving badges with personal IDs
14:15 – 15:00
Security check and entering the Parliament - bring your ID
15:00-15:10
Welcome and Introduction
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
15:10 – 15:40
Session 1 - The role of ESF+ for social inclusion
- Moderator: Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
- Arnaud López, Deputy to the General Director. National Association of Directors of Social Care and Health in County Councils (ANDASS), France
- Giorgos Antonopoulos, Deputy Mayor for Social Services, Municipality of Fyli, Greece
- Andreia-Ligia Moraru, Director of Social Services Târgu Mureș, Romania
- Sonia Fuertes, Commissioner of Social Action, Barcelona City Council, Spain
15:40 – 16:50
Session 2 - A strong ESF+ the next EU budget
- Ruth Paserman, Director for Funds, Programming and Implementation, DG EMPL, European Commission
- MEP David Casa, European People’s Party, EMPL Committee (TBC)
- Pilar Saénz de Ormijana, Financial Advisor, Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU, Spain - Council of the EU (ECOFIN Committee)
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
- Nerea Melgosa Vega, Councillor for wellbeing, youth and demographic challenges, Basque Country, Spain
- Linda Ozola, Member of the Riga City Council, Chair of the “New UNITY” faction, and a Member of the Social Affairs Committee
- Lora Vidović, City Minister, City of Zagreb, Croatia
Q&A with EU decision makers (20 min)
- MEP Hristo Petrov, Renew Europe, Bulgaria, EMPL Committee
- MEP Estelle Ceulemans, Socialist & Democrats Group, Belgium, EMPL Committee
- MEP Gordan Bosanac, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Croatia, REGI Committee
- Ruth Paserman, Director for Funds, Programming and Implementation, DG EMPL, European Commission
- Pilar Saénz de Ormijana, Financial Advisor, Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU, Spain - Council of the EU (ECOFIN Committee)
16:50-17:00
Conclusion and closing remarks
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network