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Centre International de Recherches et d'Information sur l'Economie publique, sociale et coopérative (CIRIEC)

CIRIEC

Organisation scientifique internationale non gouvernementale - créée en 1947 à Genève et reconnue ensuite par Arrêté royal belge le 27 juillet 1961 -, le CIRIEC (Centre International de Recherches et d’Information sur l’Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative - Aisbl) a depuis 1947 pour objectifs d’assurer et promouvoir la collecte d’informations, la recherche scientifique et la publication de travaux interdisciplinaires concernant les secteurs économiques et les activités orientés vers le service de l’intérêt général et de l'intérêt collectif : l’action de l’Etat et des pouvoirs publics régionaux et locaux ; les services publics ; les entreprises publiques et mixtes ; l’économie sociale : coopératives, mutuelles et associations sans but lucratif, …

Lobbying Activity

Response to Social Economy Action Plan

23 Apr 2021

Founded in 1947, CIRIEC-International is a meeting place for academics, researchers and leaders of public and private organisations involved in the research for economic models oriented towards the collective interest, in a social and environmental context that requires us to rethink our ways of producing, exchanging, consuming and participating to solidarity. As such, it considers that the social economy is one of the forms of the collective economy necessary to pursue the general interest, alongside public policy actors. CIRIEC takes the opportunity of this consultation opened by the European Commission to affirm its expectations regarding an action plan for the social economy in Europe. To answer global challenges of ecological and social transitions and deal with ethical questions, it is necessary to take into account the collective interest and the individuals. Everything that the social economy represents is at the heart of these issues: • a continuing desire to contribute to the social contract by proposing a framework for collective commitment, while respecting human rights and the role of individuals; • a capacity to innovate by proposing long-term responses; • a guiding principle of action based on collective undertaking and decision-making in an equitable, transparent and democratic way; • ethics based on freedom, autonomy and independence, which makes the social economy the very substance of an economy driven by democratic principles; • a concept of value creation, primarily oriented towards those who create it, which reconciles efficiency with not-seeking profit or limited profitability. Consequently: 1. We are convinced that Europe and the world need the social economy. 2. It is strategic to first improve the understanding, visibility and recognition of the social economy. 3. Social economy enterprises and organisations are therefore entitled to expect a development framework that is favourable to their forms of enterprise beyond their activities. 4. European democracy needs the social economy. We are also convinced that the social economy shares with the founding political project of the Union a set of common values that must be reaffirmed at a time when the Commission is considering not only a development pact for the social economy, but also the future of the European Union.
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