Can the EU maintain its social ambitions in an era of rising geopolitical pressures and competing budget priorities?

This question will be at the centre of an expert discussion on the future of the European Social Fund (ESF+), taking place on 29 May 2026 in Bratislava.

CELSI Executive Director Marta Kahancová will join the panel at an event organised by the Office of the European Parliament in Slovakia and the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA), held at Európsky dom (Palisády 29, Bratislava) from 10:30.

The discussion will bring together Miriam Lexmann, Member of the European Parliament (KDH/EPP), Viliam Michalovič, Director General for EU Programme Management at the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, and Marta Kahancová.

The discussion will be moderated by Natália Babicová.

The ESF+ has long been a key EU instrument for supporting employment, social inclusion, and skills development. With the preparation of the new EU long-term budget for 2027–2034 now underway, its future shape and role are under debate.

The panel will address the fund's track record in Slovakia, including longstanding concerns about the country's capacity to absorb and deploy funds effectively, as well as the broader question of whether the social dimension of European integration will hold its ground against competing strategic priorities such as security and competitiveness.

🔗 Registration and more about the event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1J5WmJ6sWGpHA4jBQ0hSxYAXCVHpE_Tdhn6Nn5iVaYSag4Q/viewform

Thank you to SFPA and the Office of the European Parliament in Slovakia for the invitation.

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