From evidence to action: lessons on EU funding towards a more Social Europe

From evidence to action: lessons on EU funding towards a more Social Europe  

4 March 2026 (13:00-14:30)

Description

The session aims to showcase the transformative impact of EU funding and programmes in supporting disadvantaged groups in society. With a spotlight on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and other funding and policy measures, the discussion will provide compelling insights into how these resources are driving meaningful change.  The session will present evidence from the Commission, good practices and challenges from Member States and beneficiaries. The session will explore innovative strategies that have successfully empowered disadvantaged groups. It will also explore the methodological issues and challenges related to evaluating interventions. Furthermore, the session will provide insights into effective programme design and the potential for scaling-up approaches. The session will present robust evidence from evaluations, including counterfactual impact evaluations, to demonstrate the effectiveness of EU funding in reaching and supporting disadvantaged groups, including those facing poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion. It will serve to reflect on how the findings from evidence can be used in current and future funding programmes, including projects that have led to structural changes.

Moderator

Ruth Paserman, Director DG EMPL, European Commission

Speakers

Manuel Serrano-Alarcon, Quantitative Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Achim Schmillen, Lead Economist for Social Policy, World Bank

Eleni Koukoula, Head of Unit C, ESF+ Actions Coordination of Evaluation and Indicators, Ministry of Economy and Finance, General Directorate of Strategy Planning and Implementation of the PA

Minh-Huy Lai, Europe COO, Generation: You Employed Europe, Inc.

Dragos-Nicolae Pislaru, Minister, Ministry of Investments and European Projects