Multiannual financial framework

One in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

One in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

This reality affects over 20 million children across Europe and represents a serious social emergency and a threat to the EU’s long-term cohesion, prosperity, and democracy.

As the European Union enters a new political cycle and prepares the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), civil society urges leaders to take necessary actions. Children must be placed at the core of Europe’s future agenda.

Together with leading child rights and social justice organisations, we have issued a joint letter to EU leaders, calling on them to:

Reinforce the European Child Guarantee
Integrate child poverty into a stronger EU Social Agenda
Secure robust, long-term investment in the next MFF

Child poverty is widespread and systematic failure, affecting children in every EU Member State. While the context may differ across countries, the outcome is universally unjust. Their rights are not being fully respected, protected, and fulfilled.

As highlighted in the Draghi Report on EU competitiveness, Europe’s ability to compete globally must go hand in hand with equity and inclusion. A resilient and competitive Europe protects and empowers its children.

Investing in children is not just a moral responsibility. It is a strategic necessity. If the EU fails to act now, the costs—social, economic, and political — will be immeasurable and irreversible.

What does it say about the European Union when one of the most developed regions in the world cannot guarantee a life of dignity and opportunity to all its children? What future are we shaping if entire generations are left behind?

Childhood poverty violates rights. It restricts potential. It weakens democracy. Therefore, we need to protect children and invest in their futures.

A Europe that protects every child:
Aligning EU’s policies and budget to eradicate child poverty

ERGO Network opinion on Multiannual Financial Framework for Roma

Significant shifts are underway as the EU prepares its next long-term budget (2028–2034). Global crises, digital change, and new leadership are shaping priorities, and the European Commission’s recently published Roadmap focuses heavily on competitiveness and efficiency.

However, one crucial issue is missing: Roma inclusion.

Over 6 million Roma live in the EU—80% at risk of poverty, fewer than half in paid work, and 1 in 4 facing daily discrimination. The proposed budget risks cutting or merging key social programs, threatening the fragile progress made so far.

Roma inclusion must be built into the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) from the start to meet the EU’s 2030 goals and uphold the European Pillar of Social Rights.

ERGO Network has outlined clear recommendations to ensure this happens:

Keep rights-based rules: Tie EU funds to real action, including national Roma inclusion strategies.
Protect social funding: Maintain the EU’s Cohesion Policy, which supports education, housing, and health for vulnerable groups.
Keep ESF+ independent: The European Social Fund+ must remain a dedicated tool for fighting poverty and inequality.
Enforce EU values: Countries should not violate basic rights – through racism, discrimination, or abuse.
Support civil society: Roma-led organisations need resources to advocate and build inclusion from the ground up.

read our full recommendation

The next EU budget is a test of values. A competitive Europe must also be a fair one, and the MFF must deliver on both.

Towards a more holistic approach to Roma inclusion

Towards a more holistic approach to Roma inclusion in the EU: stronger policy mainstreaming and focus

The long term perspective of the Roma inclusion process implies that, at this stage, expecting major socioeconomic impact of the Roma integration process is premature. Although the necessary policies, tools and structures linked with the inclusion of Roma were put in place in the Member States, the actual implementation is still at an initial phase without mainstreaming them in the EU general policy initiatives.

Existing assessments of implementation of the social inclusion policies and programmes at EU and national level revealed that the policies and programs did not reach marginalised groups, and did not manage to improve the situation of Roma. This is why ERGO Network, with contributions from its allies, published a policy paper that provides specific recommendations on possible ways of mainstreaming Roma inclusion in the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework and post 2020 EU Roma Framework, key recommendations for the mainstream policies, and finally, not only initiatives/actions that should be taken by the European Commission, but also those that should be taken by Member States.

Recommendations on Roma Inclusion for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework

Recommendations on Roma Inclusion for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework

It is essential that the Commission maintains its commitment to Roma inclusion by at least making explicit reference to Roma in the post-2020 MFF proposal. By doing so, the Commission will secure an opportunity for its directorates and services as well as for the member states to prioritise targeted funding for Roma in future policies and relevant calls for applications and projects

This paper outlines the views of national and international Roma and pro-Roma organisations and suggests key recommendations on Roma issues for the European Commission proposal on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.

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