In a written answer on 31 July 2026, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu outlined the Commission's plans to strengthen the effectiveness of EU-funded youth employment measures, responding to a parliamentary question from Nikolas Farantouris (S&D). The answer, delivered on behalf of the Commission, focuses on improving monitoring and evaluation frameworks under the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) to ensure long-term labour market integration, while also committing to targeted support for Greece, which has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the EU. Mînzatu's response signals a policy direction that prioritises quality job creation and structural reforms over short-term hiring incentives, directly addressing concerns raised by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
The answer comes in response to a question that cited ECA findings that many EU-funded measures since 2014, amounting to around EUR 25 billion from Cohesion Policy, do not focus on long-term integration of young people. Mînzatu acknowledged these findings and proposed concrete steps: strengthening monitoring and evaluation, exchanging best practices with Member States, and using ESF+ funding for vocational training and expanding childcare and long-term care services to boost labour market participation, particularly for women and vulnerable groups. For Greece, the Commission is aligning ESF+ interventions with country-specific recommendations, which highlight skills mismatches and precarious employment conditions. Greece's ESF+ allocation for youth unemployment is approximately EUR 700 million for 2021-2027, and the Just Transition Fund adds EUR 1.63 billion for regional employment initiatives. The Commission also plans to use technical support instruments to strengthen Greece's administrative capacity to absorb EU funds efficiently.
The answer contains concrete proposals, including numerical targets and funding allocations, but stops short of announcing new legislative or financial instruments. It reiterates the Commission's commitment to the Youth Guarantee and emphasises collaboration under the European Semester. The response reflects a cleavage between short-term hiring incentives and long-term structural integration, with the Commission leaning towards the latter. Stakeholders most impacted include Greek authorities, who will face administrative demands to meet new monitoring requirements; young people in high-unemployment regions, who may benefit from more sustainable job placements; and EU taxpayers, who fund these programmes and expect better outcomes. The Commission's approach could impose additional compliance costs on national administrations, but it aims to improve the effectiveness of public spending. Institutional follow-up is likely to involve further guidance on ESF+ implementation and enhanced bilateral dialogue with Greece under the European Semester, with potential adjustments to national programmes in the coming years.