MEPs call for European Social Fund 2028-2034 to have stronger emphasis on education

MEPs on the education and culture committee (CULT) have called for a stronger emphasis on education within the European Social Fund (ESF).

The CULT Committee voted on 27/02/2026 to approve a draft opinion on the European Commission's proposal for the ESF for 2028-2034. It is the EU instrument that will support quality employment, skills development and social inclusion across the Union for the 2028-2034 period.

In the opinion, which is addressed to the main committee on the ESF proposal, the Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), MEPs said that the Union faced "growing educational inequalities, declining learning outcomes, persistent shortages of qualified teachers and unequal access to quality education and training".

They called for the ESF to back inclusive, publicly funded education and training, vocational learning, lifelong learning, mobility programmes and the professional development of teachers, while ensuring smoother transitions from education to employment in line with the European Education Area and the European Pillar of Social Rights.

CULT committee MEPs also called for…