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EU budget reform: Social projects in acute danger!
The BAGFW warns of the new EU budget structure from 2028, which endangers social projects and threatens social cohesion.
EU budget reform: Social projects in acute danger!
Berlin/Brussels (ots)
Alarm bells are ringing! The Federal Association of Non-Governmental Welfare (BAGFW) is sending a very concerned signal about the shocking restructuring of the EU budget that the Commission is planning from 2028. Uncovered drafts show that important social support programs such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) are at risk. These programs are vital for civil society organizations and their support for disadvantaged groups in Germany and Europe.
“These plans are massively endangering social cohesion in Europe,” warns Michael Groß, President of the BAGFW. The new focus of the budget structure is clearly about competitiveness and the centralization of responsibility. This means that social projects and help for vulnerable people in EU member states could become significantly less important. Groß adds: “Abolishing the ESF would be a serious step backwards for social justice in Europe.” Especially in times of demographic change, he emphasizes that the EU can strengthen the inclusive support of all people and not neglect parts of the population.
Shocking changes to priorities!
According to the EU Commission's alarming plans, the existing regional and agricultural policies are to be abolished. Instead, three new priorities are to be established: national grants, a European Competition Fund and a “strategic funding approach” for external actions. This would mean a much more centralized system for allocating funds, with member states given more freedom to decide how funds are used, which risks pushing social support programs further into the background.
“There are two key problems with this project,” Groß continues. "Firstly, important social funding programs, which were often supported by the European Parliament, would be lost in this new structure. Secondly, civil society organizations as well as regions and countries would lose their co-determination rights." The BAGFW calls on the Federal Government and the European Parliament to vehemently oppose these questionable plans and to defend social cohesion in Europe. Time is running out! The BAGFW is actively involved in future discussions about the EU budget and calls on everyone involved to campaign for a fair financial policy.