Italy has expressed reservations about the proposed European Social Fund (ESF) Regulation for 2028–2034, while welcoming certain improvements, in a statement to be included in the Council minutes. The statement, dated 24 June 2026, was issued ahead of the Council's partial general approach on the file.
Italy thanked the Cypriot Presidency for progress on the ERDF/Cohesion Fund and ESF proposals, acknowledging improvements in compromise texts. It welcomed the ERDF/Cohesion Fund Regulation's inclusion of a "right to stay" article, proposed by Italy, to strengthen territorial attractiveness, access to essential services, connectivity, and conditions for people to remain in fragile areas. Italy also positively assessed strengthened provisions on disadvantaged areas, regional innovation, sustainable urban development, and moving Interreg provisions to the sectoral ERDF/Cohesion Fund Regulation.
For the ESF Regulation, Italy welcomed strengthened support for demographic transition and clearer specification of the Fund's contribution to quality employment, skills, education, social inclusion, poverty reduction, and access to services. However, Italy raised several reservations: sectoral regulations insufficiently delineate Funds' scope of intervention; there is no dedicated financial allocation for Cohesion Policy; and the Italian proposal for a sectoral annex identifying intervention areas and indicators was not accepted. Italy also argued that fundamental rights and rule of law should be a horizontal principle, not an area of intervention for Cohesion Policy Funds. Additionally, the ESF Regulation does not allow technical assistance interventions, unlike the ERDF, which Italy says is essential for effective programming.
Italy supports the ESF Regulation's direction but insists on clearer Fund identity, a dedicated budget, and technical assistance provisions, while arguing fundamental rights should remain a horizontal principle. The statement signals potential pushback during negotiations, as Italy seeks to shape the final text before adoption.