ROLE OF ESF+
PROMOTING QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES
Our event at the European Parliament on 9 April 2019 was an opportunity to discuss how the future European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) can be used to invest in effective and efficient social services, in order to support the social inclusion of vulnerable groups such as children, young people, and people with chronic conditions (including older people). It was hosted by MEP Sofia Ribeiro with the presence of MEPs Brando Benifei and VerĂłnica Lope FontagnĂŠ. 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework The timing of the event was important, as negotiations are underway for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and it brought together representatives from the European Parliament, The European Commission, and public social services. Our members made the case for investment in social services based on their expertise managing EU funds. S ocial services make use of EU funding to strengthen local practice, foster cooperation between local partners, and test innovative projects xamples of some of these projects were presented, with discussions drawing on the experiences of local E social services when accessing and managing EU funds, to develop recommendations for the new ESF+ T hese recommendations put forward ideas on how the new ESF+ can be designed to better address the priorities of social services, and improve the implementation of the ESF+
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