“S&D has achieved the inclusion of ESF+ [European Social Fund] in next MFF [the EU’s long-term budget, known as the multiannual financial framework] ― a major win for people across Europe,” said a group spokesperson.
“Yesterday the ESF+ was out of the MFF. Today it is in it, thanks to the firmness of the S&D family,” the spokesperson added.
The motion of no confidence is expected to fail to meet the two-thirds majority threshold, given the centrist groups, comprising von der Leyen’s center-right European People’s Party, the Socialists, and the liberals of Renew Europe, have now all confirmed they will vote against.
“Von der Leyen has made a major concession on a topic that is dear to the S&D,” said MEP René Repasi, leader of the German SPD in the Parliament.
“I think that she finally understood what is happening in the Parliament after Monday‘s debate and she saw the need to act,” he added. “We recognize this effort and we take it into consideration when taking our final decision how to vote tomorrow.”
Ahead of the presentation of the next EU seven year long budget slated for next week, the Socialists, the second-largest group in the European Parliament, linked their support to the preservation of the European Social Fund, which is supposed to tackle poverty and support vulnerable groups.