A deal has been reached between the European Parliament’s Rapporteur David Casa and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council on the almost €90 billion European Social Fund Plus – the European Union’s main tool to support employment, social inclusion, training, education and social innovation.

This deal is a breakthrough in negotiations which will now see the provisional agreement being approved by both the Council and the European Parliament in the upcoming weeks.

Reacting to the deal, Casa said, “Negotiations on these funds weren’t easy for two reasons. First, we are speaking about one of the largest funds of the European Union: almost €90 billion spread over 7 years among the 27 Member States. Second, negotiations started during the COVID-19 pandemic which has left unprecedented social consequences on a lot of European families. However, I am proud that the agreement has been reached. I now urge both institutions to get it approved as quickly as possible, so that Governments can use this money to fund various schemes focusing on employment, training, and social inclusion.”

The aims of the European Social Fund instrument are to address the huge problems which workers, youth, children and families face in the areas of employment, education, skills and social inclusion. In Malta, part of this budget is administered by Jobs Plus through schemes such as the Access to Employment Scheme. Various entities can benefit from such funds, including Public Sector Organisations, local councils, as well as many NGOs.

The European Social Fund Plus is the second large social file which Quaestor David Casa was entrusted with. Just two years ago, the European Directive on the Work Life Balance became law, which will increase the rights of parents and carers across all the European Union’s Member States.