On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.

The European Social Fund (ESF) will be one of the funds grouped under the 27 National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs). 

Designed in close partnership between the Commission, national and regional authorities and other stakeholders, each Plan will bring together different EU funds implemented by Member State and Regions under one coherent strategy. 

The Plans will cover cohesion policy including social policy and regional policy as well as common agricultural policy, fisheries and maritime policy, migration, border management and internal security.

In brief, the NRPPs will allow for:

• Better coordination of the ESF with other policies and funds, maximising the impact of each euro invested.
• A more tailored approach, reflecting the national and regional needs of each Member State while ensuring coherent support to all EU policy objectives in line with European Semester and preserving multi-level governance and the partnership principle at the core. 

The European Social Fund 

As part of the Plans, the ESF remains the main instrument to promote and strengthen social cohesion, investing in Europe’s people, their future and preparedness. It will contribute to promote equal opportunities for all, support strong social safety nets, foster social inclusion and intergenerational fairness, and fight poverty.

According to its dedicated regulation, the ESF will contribute to: 

• supporting quality jobs and labour mobility,
• improving education, training, and lifelong acquisition of skills,
• fighting poverty and homelessness,
• promoting social inclusion and equality,
• addressing material deprivation,
• developing social infrastructure. 

For further information, please consult the proposal published by the Commission on 16 July 2025. 

In numbers

• The total financing of the National and Regional Partnership Plans, the Interreg Plan and the EU Facility will amount to about EUR 865 billion. The allocation per Member State is available here.
• For the National and Regional Partnership Plans, EUR 783 billion will provide opportunities for investment in regions and for addressing economic, social, and territorial disparities. In addition, EUR 10.2 billion will be allocated to Interreg Plans, and EUR 72 billion to the EU Facility for Union actions and emerging challenges and priorities.
• Economic, territorial, and social cohesion – including support for fisheries, rural communities, and tourism – will have an envelope of EUR 453 billion, plus 10 billion for Interreg. This is broadly equivalent to the allocation provided under the current multi-annual financial framework.
• Investment in the least developed regions will be ring‑fenced, with EUR 218 billion guaranteed for them – the same amount as in the current programming period.
• In addition, the EU will offer up to EUR 150 billion in loans to help Member States invest in support social innovation, microfinance, the social economy, and investment in health, education and housing.
• At least 14 % of the financial envelope of the NRPP regulation (including the loans) will be dedicated to social objectives. Direct payments under the CAP and Social Climate Fund budget are taken out for the calculation of this minimum social spending target. This amounts to at least EUR 100 billion for financing social objectives. 

Next Steps

With the presentation of the proposals by the Commission, the process has officially begun. 

The ESF and the NRPP regulations will be adopted in co-decision between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

The Commission will do everything in its power to support a swift agreement.   

Proposals of the Commission (as published on 16 July 2025)

• Communication on “A dynamic EU budget for the priorities of the future - The Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034”
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security, and annexes
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Social Fund as part of the National and Regional Partnership Plan