The EU budget (MFF)

The EU’s long-term budget is the main financial framework for the Union’s spending programmes, meaning that it must also reflect clear political priorities. 

As Europe faces big challenges including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftershocks, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a cost-of-living crisis, it is a crucial time to prioritise social fairness, resilience and invest in a more inclusive Union. 

Social Platform calls for the next EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) to safeguard funding on social spending to ensure we continue making progress in implementing the Pillar of Social Rights and reducing poverty, inequality and regional disparities.

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Our work to champion funding for social issues

Cohesion and social funds can play a crucial role in supporting social inclusion across the EU. The experiences of our members and their national members in working with and monitoring the implementation of EU funds in their countries informs our advocacy on what works and what needs to change. 

Social Platform works with our members to advocate to increase the funding for social spending  and improve processes to ensure funding reaches those most in need.

Our position on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021-2027)

Adopted in 2018, our policy position on looked ahead to the MFF 2021-2027, demanding that the Social Pillar be adequately funded to foster social fairness, resilience and a more inclusive Union.

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EU budget for health, cohesion, and research faces cuts to fund strategic technologies, defence and security at its borders

Europe continues to suffer from converging crises, striving to overcome the health and socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, while addressing the consequences of ongoing global conflicts and climate change. 

European social civil society and public health organisations question whether smaller EU funding will deliver on the health and social rights political priorities of the next EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 as permacrisis continues.

For European Social Fund project outcomes with a real impact on people’s lives

Social Platform has always pushed for a multi-annual financial framework (MFF) that
shifts the balance of the EU budget towards people-centred policies. To put ‘people first’, the EU budget must ensure that the European Pillar of Social Rights can be fully implemented with sufficient funding and involvement of civil society organisations.

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