The Federal Chamber of Labour (BAK) in principal welcomes the approach laid out in the proposal for the improvement of the European Social Fund+ in the Multiannual Financial Framework. However, the concrete plans of the European Commission don’t seem to reflect this approach in a satisfactory manner. The original ESF will be merged with four other Funds, which will increase its budget in absolute numbers to 101 bn. Euro. But with the increase in tasks for the ESF+ this amounts to a de facto decrease in ESF-budget.