During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027: opening statements by David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

social Europe (T)

European Social Fund (T)

SCHMIT, Nicolas (LU, EC)

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

CASA, David (EPP, MT)

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027: opening statements by David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, Thank you, Madam Chair, Madam Speaker, and thank your colleagues today, we can say that we've made it. We've made it after long years. Which now we're at the culmination of the last vote tomorrow, hopefully. This work, which started in 2018 when the Commission proposed the programme for the funds for the ESF for seven years between 2021 and 2027.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, For over six years, the ESF was a main tool for the European Union to invest in people moneys which help millions of people every year. It provides support, which is clear and tangible. It is concrete as well. It has an invaluable positive impact on the lives of our citizens. And now we have a larger and expanded ESF which incorporates all that we can consider to be important.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, I'm referring to all of this because the shadows all agreed that this ESF should include EACEA and seeks to achieve all the aims of the Youth Employment Guarantee or initiative. The ESF plus through this new structure will be able to harness synergies and funds which were separate before.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, Why? To give more value value to people, to families, to workers, to young people, to children, to old people, people with special needs and also employers naturally in negotiations arranged of the Parliament were clear. We wanted to ensure that those are the most needy would not be excluded.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, We wanted to ensure that expenditure in certain sectors would be ensured that this will reach the youth, that there would be enough money to to be used on children living in poverty and to fight social exclusion too.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, When we started working, we certainly didn't know that we would be faced with a pandemic and that the social challenges and the problems and work that this brought with it in the past year has always been crucial. But constantly more nowadays to help those who have lost their work, to ensure that they will have to be retrained to to re-enter the workplace again so that those vulnerable will not only be further marginalised, but will be reintegrated to help those most deprived in our societies and those who have found it most difficult to even buy the most to procure the most basic needs.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, And so our work would not have been more important, more relevant, or even of more consequence. And today, with satisfaction, I can say that our efforts brought success. Thank you. In the parliament to the to the negotiating team, they are stressed, they are strong and and because they were amalgamated and were united, we reached our aims. In particular, we reached these aims.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, The parliament ensured that those most in need would not be excluded. We ensured that the three percent of the ESF plus funds for to be used for the same and this amount will not be changed. We ensured that a quarter of ESF plus funds will be used to promote social inclusion.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, We ensured that member states, all member states will allocate and ensure sufficient resources to address youth unemployment, child poverty with minimum allocations to be used in the most affected member states. And we ensured that there would be enough monies to assist stakeholders and civil society.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, But we also agreed and understood the importance of needing to be ready to adopt to situations which amount to a crisis. And here we needed to find the right balance to ensure the possibility for funds to be used where they are most needed, with all appropriate safeguards in place and the text resulting that reflects all these aims from the bottom of my heart.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, Obviously, I wish to thank all the shadows who with whom I worked. And I must say that in 17 years since I have been here, I've never worked with a team which are so united. I obviously wish to thank the Commissioner Schmit without his interventions, we we would often never have reached the text we're going to vote upon tomorrow.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, I wish to thank the Council, the Croatian presidency, the German presidency and the Portuguese presidency. I wish to thank the technical team from the administration for the impeccable work. And nationally, not least of all, my assistants should be thanked as well because they worked with me all the time for very long hours, and which I think we should be proud of the results and for what we're going to do over the next seven years.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), David CASA (EPP, MT), rapporteur, ESF Plus, which will provide great support to member states to address the crisis caused by the pandemic, to combat unemployment, to provide fair social protection and a workforce that is prepared to transition to a green and digital economy. We shall implement the principles of the European pillar of social rights. Therefore, I urge you, colleagues, to support in favour of this tomorrow. And I'd like to once again thank all those who helped me.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Madama chair. Dear Rapporteur, Mr Casa, the shadow rapporteurs and honourable members. Well, because you finished by thanking everybody, I will start by thanking you, Mr Rapporteur, dear David Casa, and the parliament's negotiating team for what has been achieved. For the very constructive work all throughout.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Sometimes more difficult negotiations, but, you know, you forget how difficult negotiations were once you look at the results and the result, I think is extremely positive. It's a good compromise that was found between Colegislators.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, And it is now put to the vote, and I trust that you will confirm the adoption of the fund at this crucial moment, indeed, today more than ever, and you already insisted on the different aspects of the social funds has to support.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, And today, more than ever, we need to put people first and centre. Both to succeed in the green and digital transitions and to shape a recovery that is very inclusive and sustainable, and we will simply tackle these important challenges if we do really take people along.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, At the Porto Social Summit, the EU leaders, the European institutions, and particularly also the parliament's social partners and civil society. Have reaffirmed their pledge to work towards a strong social Europe and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan is the right way to achieve this goal.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, But also in this context, the adoption of the European Social Fund plus represents an important step in this direction and I would say an indispensable tool to achieve this goal. It is vital that now we can programme concrete measures under the fund with legal certainty in order to facilitate the transitions, support the most vulnerable and contribute to the social recovery of Europe by creating a positive dynamic towards upward social and economic convergence within and between member states.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The final agreement reached by legislators is indeed balanced. It is a credible response to the economic and social challenges we are currently facing. And as you did already, Mr. Rapporteur, let me highlight also a few key aspects. All member states will invest 25 percent of their ESF plus resources in social inclusion measures, and in addition, all member states will use three percent to address material deprivation.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, This important outcome was driven by the European Parliament's negotiating team and is the right response to the challenges that the pandemic has indeed amplified. It is an imperative to tackle poverty, inequalities and social exclusion in order to avoid permanent scars from the pandemic crisis and also to reduce pre-existing long term negative trends in this relation.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, I also emphasise that the agreed text ensures that sufficient funding will be allocated to the key target groups who have been disproportionately affected by the covid-19 pandemic children at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and especially young people in search of finding their place on the labour market and finally in society.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, This is a very important signal that we are giving. We want to invest in children and youth to build a fairer and more resilient economies and societies. And as stated at the Porto declaration by heads of state and government, and I quote this because this is a very strong commitment. I quote, We will prioritise action to support young people who have been very negatively affected by the covid-19 crisis.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Young people represent an indispensable source of dynamism, talent and creativity for Europe, end of the quote. The Commission will do its utmost to foster this dynamism, these talents and this creativity by using the European social fund plus resources.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, And this is also why the Commission stands by its two statements to do the utmost to ensure that all member states shall programme an appropriate amount of their ESF plus national resources to tackle child poverty and to support youth employment.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The ESF plus must effectively contribute to the implementation of both the child guarantee and the Youth Guarantee, work is already ongoing in that regard within the bilateral negotiations on the programmes between the member states and the Commission. This is absolutely key. To to establish a strong and inclusive recovery.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Finally, I would like to highlight the importance of the contribution of social partners and civil society. The negotiations have strengthened their involvement and ensured sufficient funding. It is by involving these actors that we can reach the best results.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Nicolas SCHMIT,  European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Honourable members, the European Social Fund plus is our main tool to invest in people. This is the best answer we can give to the challenges we are facing with the ongoing transitions, and I know I can count on you on this parliament and look forward to a continued fruitful cooperation. Thank you.