On Tuesday 14 July 2026, the FEBA Annual Forum on Food Aid and Social Inclusion, hosted by Danilo Della Valle (MEP), brought together representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, civil society organisations and the FEBA network to discuss how the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy can better support people experiencing poverty across Europe.
The two roundtables featured voices from the European Parliament; Marit Maij (MEP), Danilo Della Valle (MEP), and João Oliveira, from the European Commission; Christoph Nerlich and Katarina Ivanković Knežević, FEBA members (Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Netherlands), and representatives from civil society organisations (Caritas, EAPN, Red Cross, Eurodiaconia and Chez Nous/Bij Ons).
FEBA was represented by the CEO Esteban Arriaga, Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager Ignazio Corrao, and Research Officer Luisa Fadel.
Evidence from Our Network: Food Assistance is an Essential Pathway to Social Inclusion
“That plate is more than a plate. It is a message: you are here, you belong, you are welcome here. Love and trust are not enough, we have a responsibility. The meal is the door, equal changes are what is behind it.” Armando Monteleone, Chez Nous/Bij Ons
Luisa Fadel presented FEBA’s 2025 ESF+ report, during which the FEBA network distributed over 106,300 tonnes of food through ESF+, reaching more than 5 million people across Europe. By covering the costs of food assistance, ESF+ allows Food Banks to redirect their own resources towards accompanying measures that strengthen social inclusion and support beneficiaries beyond immediate material needs.
The report’s findings were echoed in testimonials from FEBA members:
- Etienne Rubens (FÉDÉRATION BELGE DES BANQUES ALIMENTAIRES / BELGISCHE FEDERATIE VAN VOEDSELBANKEN) stressed that, without the ESF+ funding, food banks would be forced to significantly reduce the level of food support they provide to people in need.
- Isabel Jonet (FEDERAÇĀO PORTUGUESA DOS BANCOS ALIMENTARES) also reminded about the importance of investing in education, training and inclusion measures to help beneficiaries break cycles of poverty.
- Tom Hillemans (VOEDSELBANKEN NEDERLAND) emphasised the growing demand for food aid and the importance of partnerships across the food supply chain to maximise food redistribution.
- Jean Rodesch (BANQUE ALIMENTAIRE LUXEMBOURG) reflected on the increasing challenges of the in-work poverty, rising housing costs and food inflation. He reminded that food banks should never become the solution to poverty itself, but offer dignity, hope and social connection through food assistance for those experiencing hardship.
FEBA’s research combined with testimonials from our network highlighted that tackling poverty requires three essential components: strong partnerships, sustained investment, and the flexibility to respond to local needs.
Voices of the Civil Society: Accessibility, Inclusivity and Understanding of People Experiencing Poverty at the Heart of Successful Policy Implementation
“Participation of people experiencing poverty is key if you want to have proper strategies.” Jessica Machacova, EAPN
The civil society interventions highlighted the importance of involving people experiencing poverty in policymaking through accessible, accountable participation mechanisms, while also addressing structural inequalities. Participants emphasised the need for long-term funding, stronger minimum income guarantees, better access to social services, and more effective implementation of existing legislation, rather than developing isolated policy mechanisms. They also addressed the need to improve poverty measurement tools to better reflect the realities of those facing poverty and exclusion.
European Institutions Recognise the Need for Adequate Funding in Social Inclusion and Material Assistance
‘’Building social inclusion is the real goal we need to achieve, and food support is the entry way to these systems,‘’ – Christoph Nerlich, European Commission
The need for adequate funding for social and material assistance and recognising poverty as a structural issue of our political systems was at the heart of the interventions from members of the European Commission and the European Parliament.
“– Investing in reducing inequality is not a coast, it is actually an investment into our future as a society. The resource exists, the rest is political will,“ – Danilo Della Valle (MEP, the Left)
The key takeaway from the day: fighting poverty is a shared European responsibility, one that binds together all sectors and actors. By combining evidence from the ground with policy measures, we can build more effective pathways to social inclusion and ensure that support reaches those who need it most.
Our sincerest thank you to our moderator Ignazio Corrao, and the speakers for dedicating their time and sharing their expertise at our event: Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Marit Maij, Danilo Della Valle, Christoph Nerlich, Esteban Arriaga Miranda, Luisa Fadel, Heather Roy, Eva Reina, Kinga Albert, Armando Monteleone, Peter Vancutsem, David Casa, João Oliveira, Etienne Rubens, Tom Hillemans, Maria Isabel Jonet, Jessica Machacova and Jean Rodesch.
Explore the full ESF+ report
View the complete YouTube stream of the Annual Forum 2026
