Answer for question E-001981/25

EN E-001981/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission (27.6.2025) The Commission acknowledges the situation regarding school canteens in Sicily and is working closely with Italy to ensure the effective implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan1. Investment 1.22 supports the construction or renovation of canteen spaces for at least 1 000 structures3. This would allow schools to extend school time, increase the educational offer and keep schools open beyond school hours. The Commission will assess its implementation via the target for ‘Structures to host students beyond school time’4, whose completion is expected by Q2 2026. The European Social Fund + (ESF+) regional programme (RP) in Sicily contributes to combat education poverty and improve access to essential services. Under its specific objective 4.55, the RP launched in 2023 the call ‘Open schools for the territory’6, making available EUR 27 million7 to enhance training provision, supporting students at risk of failure and dropout, and promoting schools as cultural hubs. The call also supports access to school canteens, covering the costs of meals for students participating to afternoon activities. The ESF+ contributes to the implementation of the Child Guarantee through targeted actions and structural reforms to tackle child poverty. To this end, Italy has earmarked EUR 1.1 billion of ESF+ resources, with roughly EUR 25 million8 to be invested in...