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Social Economy Europe

SEE

Social Economy Europe is the leading network representing over four million social economy enterprises and organisations across the European Union.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Ana Vasconcelos (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion) and Institute for European Environmental Policy and

27 Jan 2026 · Performance Regulation

Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society

25 Nov 2025

Social Economy Europe (SEE) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on a Regulation establishing a consistent and solid integration of the Social Economy in the relevant areas addressed through the AgoraEU programme. The present document develops SEEs contribution structured in two main points: 1. Integration of the Social Economy Across the Regulation and Fund. 2. Inclusion of the Social Economy within the concerned policy areas. Introduction The Social Economy (SE) is a major economic force in Europe, encompassing over 4 million enterprises and organisations that employ more than 11 million people, supported by more than 53 million active volunteers and 163 million cooperative members, generating over 912 billion in turnover (2021). Beyond its substantial economic contribution, the SE delivers significant societal value by providing goods and services to underserved urban and rural areas, fostering social cohesion, strengthening democratic participation, and building social capital and resilience. Its role and impact have been acknowledged globally through key initiatives such as the UN Resolutions on promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development, the ILO Resolution on decent work and the social economy, the OECD Recommendation on the social and solidarity economy and social innovation, and the EUs Social Economy Action Plan and the Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions. With its proven capacity to act effectively both within and beyond market mechanisms, the SE demonstrates that adequate public funding is essential to ensure its continued contribution to a resilient and vibrant society and democracy, and to the welfare of EU citizens. This is especially relevant in policy areas where values, participation, education, culture, and civic engagement play a central role in strengthening open, democratic and inclusive societies. Social Economy Europe (SEE) therefore welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Proposal for a Regulation for EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, media, culture and creative sectors, values and civil society. The AgoraEU programme is an essential driver for empowering citizens, strengthening European values, fostering creativity and innovation, enabling youth participation, and enhancing social inclusion. For the social economy, this proposal represents a decisive opportunity to ensure that its contribution to education and training, cultural and creative sectors, youth empowerment, democratic resilience, and active citizenship is visible, and effectively supported through EU funding instruments. With the present contribution to the Regulation proposal, SEE would like to highlight the potential of the social economy to reinforce Europes cultural and civic ecosystems, promote shared values, and support vibrant, resilient and participatory communities across the Union.
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Social Economy Europe Demands Inclusion in New Competitiveness Fund

12 Nov 2025
Topic — Public consultation on the post-2027 EU budget and the European Competitiveness Fund.
Message — The group requests integrating the entire social economy ecosystem across the regulation's provisions. They seek dedicated funding for skills development and participation in fund governance.12
Why — Better access to funding would help bridge the sector's significant annual social investment gap.3
Impact — Multinational companies may lose influence as the EU prioritizes locally rooted business models.4
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Social Economy Europe calls for dedicated social inclusion funding

12 Nov 2025
Topic — Consultation on the performance and reporting framework of the post-2027 EU budget.
Message — The group requests simpler funding rules for small entities and a 40% budget target for social inclusion. They also want specific indicators to track the impact of the social economy.12
Why — These measures would lower administrative barriers and increase financial access for social enterprises.3
Impact — Large-scale infrastructure projects lose out as budget focus shifts toward social investments.45
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Social Economy Europe Demands Inclusion in Post-2027 EU Budget

3 Nov 2025
Topic — This consultation concerns the rules for EU regional and social funding post-2027.
Message — The group demands that the social economy be explicitly included in funding goals. They call for binding rules ensuring their participation in designing and evaluating programs. They also request that 14% of the total EU budget supports social objectives.123
Why — Dedicated funding targets would ensure financial stability and growth for social economy enterprises.4
Impact — Local community organizations risk losing influence and resources under highly centralized funding plans.5
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Social Economy Europe seeks central role in EU poverty strategy

22 Oct 2025
Topic — The Commission is consulting on a strategy to reduce European poverty levels.
Message — Put social economy actors at the core of the strategy. Allocate proper funding to the fight against poverty and social policies. Reinforce policy coherence with the Social Economy Action Plan.123
Why — A tailored legal and fiscal framework would strengthen the social economy ecosystem.4
Impact — Real estate speculators lose profit as the strategy promotes anti-speculative housing models.5
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Social Economy Europe urges explicit recognition in State aid rules

6 Oct 2025
Topic — The Commission is revising rules exempting specific State aid categories from prior approval.
Message — The group calls for an explicit definition of the social economy to ensure legal certainty. They also suggest expanding definitions of disadvantaged workers and increasing aid limits for social enterprises.123
Why — This would facilitate easier access to public finance and reduce the risk of legal challenges.4
Impact — Mainstream companies may lose competitive advantage as social enterprises receive more generous state subsidies.5
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Social Economy Europe urges inclusive 28th regime for all businesses

30 Sept 2025
Topic — This initiative proposes a harmonized EU legal framework for innovative companies' operations.
Message — The organization calls for a broad definition of innovation and wants the regime open to all business models. They propose integrating social economy principles such as democratic governance and mission-driven strategies.123
Why — This would allow social enterprises to expand across borders while protecting their specific governance and mission-driven structures.4
Impact — Entities pursuing hostile takeovers or killer acquisitions would face safeguards protecting long-term social missions and independence.5
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Meeting with Philippe Lamberts (Principal Adviser Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action)

30 Sept 2025 · Discussion with social economy players in French-speaking Belgium organised by SAW-B, the local branch of SEE.

Meeting with Branislav Ondruš (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Sept 2025 · European Social Economy Conference

Social Economy Europe Urges Dedicated Funding for Social Rights

10 Sept 2025
Topic — Consultation on the new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Message — Social Economy Europe requests maintaining their sector as a core priority within the new plan. They call for dedicated funding, specifically demanding the restoration of the European Social Fund. They also urge policy coherence to protect social investments from future budget cuts.123
Why — This would provide social enterprises with guaranteed financial support and formal business recognition.45
Impact — Supporters of fiscal austerity would be prevented from cutting essential social protection budgets.6
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Response to Mid-Term Review: Social Economy Action Plan

16 Jul 2025

The adoption of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) by the European Commission (EC) in December 2021 is widely acknowledged by the social economy (SE) ecosystem as a historic milestone. Its greatest achievement has been defining the social economy, enabling a shared understanding across Europe, though operationalising this definition remains challenging. The Council Recommendation on SE framework conditions is also crucial, as it strengthens national-level political recognition, encourages national strategies, and institutionalises dialogue between Member States (MS) and SE stakeholders. Other important advances include the creation of the Social Economy Gateway, recognising SE as part of the EUs strategic industrial ecosystems, developing Transition Pathways, fostering cross-DG collaboration, and improving adapted financial support. While SEAP proposes measures to promote SE in key areas like taxation and public procurement, many still await adoption. The plan has improved financial instruments (e.g., InvestEU, SIFTA) and earmarked funding (ESF+, EaSI, COSME), though some funds, like COSME, were suspended in 2025 and overall SE funding is now pending on the ongoing Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations. SEAP has also boosted SEs recognition as a driver of social cohesion and civic participation both locally and globally. There have been some advances in SE data and statistics, but gaps remain in many countries. However, changing geopolitical dynamics and the ECs new priorities, notably in defence and competitiveness, risk undermining this progress. These shifts have deprioritised SE, excluding it as a key actor in transversal economic policies such as competitiveness, industrial autonomy, the Clean Industrial Deal, and EU prosperity. Yet SE is active across all economic sectors, rooted in local communities, promoting social innovation through its democratic governance, and driving EU digital sovereignty by advocating for data as a common good. Despite this, SE is not currently invited to policy tables on these issues. SE offers unique solutions in critical EU sectors like housing, clean energy, agriculture, food sovereignty, and the circular economy. Its financial ecosystemethical banks, co-operatives, credit unions, microcredit centres, foundations, and mutualscould play a pivotal role in supporting the Single Investment Union and EU industrial autonomy, but this requires tailored investment support and policies. SE plays a central role in delivering the European Pillar of Social Rights and contributes to social services, healthcare, education, training, tackling inequalities, and including vulnerable groups. Funding cuts at both EU and national levels, coupled with austerity pressures, threaten SEs ability to sustain and grow its contribution to a cohesive social Europe. SE is also a cornerstone of the EUs Democracy Shield, fostering democratic governance in enterprises and civil society. Amid rising ideological threats to democracy, this aspect should be reinforced in the next phase of SEAP implementation. In short, SEAP has given the SE sector strong momentum, but most actions are still in early stages. The current deprioritisation of SE in the EC agenda reveals that its contribution to the EU economy remains underrecognised. Social Economy Europe (SEE) calls for the full implementation of the Council Recommendation, with deep EU-MS coordination and sharing of best practices. SEE urges the next MFF to enhance social policies by reinforcing stand-alone ESF+ and cohesion funds, simplifying access, earmarking funds for SE, and better integrating SE into the European Semester and macroeconomic frameworks. Expanding and diversifying financial tools for the social finance sector is essential to advance SE enterprise development. At the legislative level, SE could be supported through adapted tax regimes,
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Meeting with Maravillas Abadía Jover (Member of the European Parliament)

12 May 2025 · Social Economy

Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

24 Apr 2025 · New legislative framework

Meeting with Bonifacio Garcia Porras (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

25 Mar 2025 · 1. Future of the Social Economy 2. The Social Economy as Driver of Competitiveness. 3. Continuity of Social Economy 4. Identifying New Opportunities

Response to Savings and Investments Union

7 Mar 2025

The Social Economy (SE) is a major economic force in Europe, with over 4 million enterprises, 11 million jobs, and 912 billion in turnover (2021). Comparable to automotive and tourism, SE plays a strategic role in competitiveness, clean industrial autonomy, and democratic resilience. Unlike speculative financial models, SE enterprises and organizations reinvest surpluses into their social objective and ensure democratic governance which ensures resources are allocated towards the needs of their constituency, ensuring economic stability and inclusive growth. The SIU must ensure investment supports the real economy rather than speculative markets. We propose three key recommendations: 1. Ensuring EU savings fund the real economy and a just green transition There is a high risk of speculative investments when mobilizing large financial resources. Given the EU must enhance competitiveness to keep pace with the US and China, it is key that public funds and citizens savings flow and benefit to the real economy and a the green transition. The SIU must take regulatory, fiscal, and financial measures to ensure savings support real, productive investments. Specifically: Redirect capital to SE enterprises such as workers' and consumers' cooperatives, as well as in key sectors such as housing, energy cooperatives, care,sustainable agrifood... Implement tax incentives to encourage long-term investments in productive sectors, such as: Capital gains tax relief for assets held beyond a set period, fostering long-term economic participation. Tax-advantaged savings vehicles, to encourage investment in sustainable businesses. A long-term investment strategy must drive SIU development to ensure European savings fuel sustainable growth. 2. Developing targeted measures to channel SIU funds toward Social Economy entities Despite their proven role in addressing EU priorities SE enterprises face persistent financial barriers. There is a mismatch between demand for and supply of finance for these organizations. To bridge this gap, the EU must: Strengthen the European SE financial ecosystem by fostering SE contributions to its full potential through SIU resources. Introduce fiscal incentives for private investment in SE enterprises, including: Tax benefits for investments in pressing EU sectors, such as affordable housing, energy, circular economy, sustainable agri-food Financial incentives for banks and institutional investors to direct capital toward SE initiatives. Ensure SEs inclusion in EU funding mechanisms, such as the Cohesion Fund, by explicitly recognizing SE enterprises in the specific objectives of EU financial programs. By aligning SIU financing with SE priorities, the EU can enhance resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. 3. Strengthening financial institutions within the Social Economy Social Economy finance institutionsethical banks, credit unions, mutual insurers, and cooperative banks, Foundations and Philanthropyare key players in financing Europes transition toward a competitive and sustainable economy. In 2022, European mutual/cooperative insurers alone managed over 3 trillion in investments, with 509 billion in annual premium incomeone-third of the European insurance market. To unlock their full potential, SIU must: Explicitly recognize Social Economy finance entities within the SIU framework, ensuring their role is integrated in EU policies. Develop direct financing tools to strengthen SE finance institutions, such as: Liquidity support and capital investments, modeled after the US Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP). Dedicated investment funds through institutions like the EIB to empower cooperative and ethical banks. Reduce excessive regulatory burdens on SE finance institutions by: Simplifying compliance requirements for smaller, community-based SE finance entities. Adopting a harmonized EU-level regulatory framework to ensure fair treatment and prevent financial fragmentation.
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Social Economy Europe urges shift from lowest-price bidding

7 Mar 2025
Topic — Evaluation of EU directives governing concession contracts and public procurement procedures.
Message — The group proposes replacing the lowest-price approach with quality-based criteria. They request smaller contract lots and simplified bidding for social enterprises. Additionally, they seek reserved contracts for health and cultural services.1234
Why — This would increase market access and revenue for smaller social organizations.5
Impact — Large corporations would face increased competition from local and social enterprises.6
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Meeting with Bonifacio Garcia Porras (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

18 Feb 2025 · Presentation of Social Economy Europe.

Social Economy Europe Urges Recognition in Single Market Strategy

31 Jan 2025
Topic — The European Commission is developing a new Strategy for the Single Market by 2025.
Message — Social Economy Europe requests the explicit inclusion of social economy enterprises in the new Single Market Strategy and its subsequent Action Plan. They advocate for a mutual recognition mechanism between member states to facilitate cross-border operations for diverse social economy legal forms.123
Why — This would ensure social economy enterprises can compete on equal footing and reduce cross-border legal barriers.45
Impact — Dominant digital platforms and large incumbents may face stricter competition enforcement and reduced market power.67
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Meeting with Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux (Head of Unit Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)

8 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on social economy developments in the EU

Meeting with Dan Barna (Member of the European Parliament) and European Network of Social Integration Enterprises

13 Nov 2024 · The social economy sector

Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Oct 2024 · The Social Economy Intergroup

Meeting with Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Oct 2024 · Constitution of the Social Economy Intergroup

Meeting with Cecilia Strada (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Sept 2024 · social economy priorities for the mandate

Meeting with Irene Tinagli (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Sept 2024 · Introductory Meeting

Meeting with Per Clausen (Member of the European Parliament) and Women Against Violence Europe Network

17 Jul 2024 · Social issues for the coming term

Meeting with Claude Gruffat (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Jan 2024 · Economie Sociale

Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

11 Dec 2023

As an integral part of the European Commission (EC) Social Economy Action Plan and of the Social Economy Package, along with the Council Recommendation on social economy framework conditions, Social Economy Europe (SEE) welcomes the ECs proposal for a Directive on European cross-border associations in its aim to support cross-border activities of non-profit associations and organisations by creating an additional legal form of social economy entity at the national level. SEE also welcomes the approach taken by the EC in addressing the European Parliament Resolution of 17 February 2022 from an internal market perspective, allowing for the first time to legally define non-profit associations and recognises minimum requirements at the European level; especially the non-profit purpose, governance and the membership of these social economy entities. As acknowledged by the Directive , non-profit organisation associations are one of the strong pillars of social economy entities with mutual benefit societies, cooperatives, and foundations that complement each other to reflect on the diversity and plurality of social economy entities. This Directive has the potential to develop this diversity of social economy entities. SEE regrets that the proposal only focuses on associations and does not include other public benefit organisations, such as foundations and mutual societies While foundations as non-profit legal entities can create a European Cross-Border Association (ECBA), the Directive proposal does not effectively cover foundations and does not provide for the creation of a European Cross-border Foundation legal statute. We welcome that the proposal seeks to remove legal and administrative obstacles for non-profit associations that operate, or would like to operate, in more than one Member State with a view to create a level playing field for associations in the EU. In addition to non-profit associations, public benefit foundations/other philanthropic organisations are experiencing similar barriers in cross-border contexts when its gets to recognition of legal personality, moving the seat or merging across borders and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is hence of the opinion that solutions should also be developed for these actors , as it was also originally called for by the European Parliament report . We are of the opinion that next to the existing European legal forms for companies and co-operatives, the approach of creating new national legal forms should be considered for other social economy families. This statutory legal approach is complementary to the implementation of the Council Recommendation on social economy framework conditions in terms of developing an enabling environment for both the social economy as a whole and in its diversity of entities. In addition, the purpose of that Directive will also facilitate and directly contribute to the internationalisation of the European social economy. In that regard, SEE clearly considers this Directive as a game changer in the formal recognition of non-profit associations, as well as a door-opener for the recognition of other non-profit organisations, in particular foundations and mutual societies.
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Meeting with Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit) and Fédération Européenne de Finances et Banques Ethiques et Alternatives and CONFEDERACION EMPRESARIAL ESPAÑOLA DE LA ECONOMIA SOCIAL

17 Jul 2023 · Social Economy Recommendation

Meeting with Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

9 Mar 2023 · Social Economy :State of play of the Social Economy Action Plan and next steps.

Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

28 Oct 2022

Social Economy Europe (SEE) welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament (EP) of its ambitious Resolution of 17 February 2022 with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations. SEE also welcomes the European Commission (EC) for its commitment to respond to this EP resolution with a legislative act. SEE considers this initiative as a complementary and mutually reinforcing means to the Council Recommendation on developing social economy frameworks, and other key actions for associations and foundations included in the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP). This legislative initiative should aim to overcome obstacles faced by foundations, associations and other NPOs, as key social economy actors within the single market by setting an adequate enabling environment that respect the wealth of social economy diversity in the Union. SEE calls the EC to include public benefit foundations and associations in its legislative initiative, in line with the EP Resolution. SEE believes that narrowing the legislative proposal down to associations would not only potentially exclude targeted organisations facing similar barriers for their cross-border activities; but would also potentially weaken the vitality and innovation both of civil society actors and democratic space, and of (essential) non-profit and social economy actors. This ambition in the scope of the EC legislative proposal should include a clear and positive definition of the non-profit sector and its organisations. This legislative initiative should hence have the ambition to protect and recognise the public-benefit sector and to overcome barriers to cross-border public-benefit work. SEE calls for creating a European legal form non-profit/public benefit organisations which would help to overcome existing barriers and the right enabling legal environment to support their role as social, civil and economic actors in the EU. The idea of developing supranational legal forms should be further analysed including reviewing other legal bases than the catch all article, which requires unanimous approval of all Member States and the procedure of enhanced collaboration. European legal forms should be attractive, accessible, and comprehensible legal instrument that will be picked up by the sector and citizens to operate more easily across borders. The administrative simplification should also drive the creation of such legal form that should avoid red tape and disproportionate supervision and reporting. We also welcome the Commissions approach to encourage MS to create a new type of national legal form that would encompass all NPOs, based on core harmonised criteria, and coherent with the social economy principles and features stated in the SEAP. In our understanding, this option should allow NPOs to be recognised across borders all over the EU and to lift NPOs main cross-border obstacles. SEE would be in favour of the establishment of minimum standards enshrined in fundamental rights on which national frameworks would be based. Such core minimum standards for NPOs would need to reinforce the respect and implementation of fundamental rights, such as the freedom of association, the freedom of expression, non-discrimination and level playing field. A European information campaign on NPOs that would aim to strengthen the cooperation among MS could be a supportive option to complement and accompany the previous legislative and policy options, particularly before the 2024 European elections, to promote citizens active participation in our democracies. We also believe that this very welcome initiative should be accompanied by other measures from the EC that would be part of an overall roadmap/campaign to support social economy and civil society as key drivers of civic freedoms and economic democracy, both at national and EU level. Full SEE contribution attached.
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Response to Developing social economy framework conditions

30 Sept 2022

Social Economy Europe, the voice of the 2.8 million social economy enterprises and organisations in the EU, representing the general interest of all social economy actors, aims at pushing for an ambitious Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) implementation, that can lead to significant growth of the social economy from representing 6.3% of the EU’s workforce in 2017 (i.e.13.6 million employees), to representing 10% of the EU’s workforce by 2030. The Council Recommendation is a key action for the success of SEAP, and a driver for policy innovation. Please find attached SEE’s fully contribution to the call for evidence, and hereunder some of our key proposals: -Calls on the Commission (EC) and on Member States (MS) to include these three key principles/features defining the social economy universe, and that are part of a European and global consensus, as part of the Council Recommendation alongside a clear reference to the main social economy forms. -The council recommendation should generate and/or strengthen the instruments for technical cooperation and peer learning on social economy framework conditions. - Calls on MS and other public authorities to adopt or update their social economy strategies/laws in close cooperation with social economy stakeholders. - Calls on the EC to assist MS in the definition of their social economy strategies, in cooperation with EU social economy stakeholders. - Calls on MS and other public authorities to designate social economy coordinators within their institutions to lead their strategies, their dialogue with EU Institutions, and to facilitate access to funding for social economy entities. -Calls on MS and other public authorities to foresee instruments for coordination/cooperation among different departments/agencies given the inter-sectorial character of the social economy. -Calls on MS and other public authorities to strengthen or support the development of social economy representative networks. Given its European expertise, SEE is at the disposal of social economy stakeholders, MS and the EC to support the development or consolidation of social economy representative networks. In MS where various social economy representative networks exist, SEE calls to establish instruments for cooperation and coordination. Calls on the EC to further support EU social economy networks. -As the social economy is a major cross-sectorial employer, SEE calls on EU Institutions and MS to advance towards the integration of social economy representative networks in the cross- sectorial social dialogue. -Calls on MS to establish collective bodies to establish a permanent dialogue with social economy stakeholders to inform, advice and accompany an effective implementation of social economy strategies. -Calls on MS & their National Statistical Institutes to adapt their national accounting sys¬tems to collect supplementary data on the social economy, with the support of the European Commission, Eurostat, and EU social economy networks. - Develop a fiscal framework for the social economy that would address the unfair competition linked with the fact that social economy actors mainly rely on their own funds to grow (and reinvest most or all profits). -Calls on MS to support the emergence/consolidation of an enabling financial ecosystem for the social economy. -Calls on MS & public authorities to further use and promote the use of socially responsible public procurement tools . -Calls on Member States to adopt tools as the French “SPASER” (Strategies for Socially and Ecologically responsible public procurement). -In line with EURICSE and Social Services Europe, SEE calls on Member States to promote the legal and political recognition for alternative instruments to public procurement for the provision of social services of general interest, in the spirit of the “shared administration”. More proposals are available in the document attached.
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Meeting with Jordi Cañas (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

18 May 2022 · INI Social Economy

Response to Social Economy Action Plan

26 Apr 2021

Social Economy Europe is the voice of social economy enterprises and organisations in the EU. Since its foundation, Social Economy Europe is the secretariat of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup. This contribution has been elaborated in cooperation with our 16 members: AIM, AMICE, CASES, CECOP, CEDAG, CEPES, ConcertES, the EFC, ENSIE, ESS-France, EMN, Eurodiaconia, FEBEA, Forum Terzo Settore, IPSE and REVES, and with four external partners: DIESIS, Euricse, SOGA Europe and The Wheel. All SEE proposals can be found in the document attached. The Treaty of Rome (1957) recognises cooperative societies in its article 58. In 1989 the Commission published its first communication on social economy , some of the objectives of the communication remain relevant: define and describe the social economy, adumbrate the framework to ensure that social economy enterprises enjoy access to the Single Market on equal footing with other forms of enterprises. 1. A common understanding of the social economy in the EU -Include a clear and inclusive definition of the social economy in the Action Plan SEE proposes the following definition to be included in the Action Plan communication: the social economy refers to a diversity of enterprises and organisational models such as cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, social enterprises, charities and other legal forms regulated at Member State level. This universe of organisations shares common principles and features that generate a common and unique identity as: the primacy of people and of the social objective over capital; democratic and participative governance; voluntary and open membership, the combination of the interest of members/users and society, the promotion and application of the principles of solidarity and responsibility; autonomous management and independence from public authorities; reinvestment of most of the profits/surpluses to carry out sustainable development objectives, services of interest to members and of general interest. As stressed by the 1989 Commission's Communication: “Such enterprises belong to the social economy sector because of their purposes and the way they organise and manage their productive activity. It has nothing to do with the nature of the economic goods and services produced”. -Elaborate an EU recommendation on the definition of social economy enterprises. Include a clear and inclusive definition of the social economy to be applied by all EU Institutions and Member States; provide guidelines to support Member States in establishing a dedicated national framework to develop social economy enterprises; promote the mutual recognition between Member States of their respective social economy legal forms. -Elaborate a European Commission report on social economy legal-frameworks and social economy legal forms 2. Improve the visibility of the Social Economy and its socio-economic contribution. -Provide support to Member States to develop social economy satellite accounts: successful experiences as the Portuguese Social Economy SA should be considered. -Produce EU aggregated Social Economy Satellite Accounts -Develop and implement methodologies to value the socio-economic impact of social economy enterprises and organisations. Create an EU online platform to offer tailored support for social economy enterprises, public authorities and support organisations to access EU opportunities -Appoint on a yearly basis a European Social Economy and Social Innovation Capital -Strengthen the support to local partnerships between social economy and local and regional authorities to develop conducive social economy ecosystems. -Promote the further use of Erasmus + opportunities, including Erasmus for young entrepreneurs, to promote social economy entrepreneurship among young people. -Under the Pact for Skills and the ESF Plus support social economy models as a tool to provide work and training opportunities for unemployed people.
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Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

5 Mar 2021 · Intervention in a roundtable event “Stand up for the Social Pillar” on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the road to the Porto Social Summit.

Response to Union of Equality: European Disability Rights Strategy

12 Nov 2020

1. Social economy as a key for an inclusive society Social Economy Europe (SEE), the umbrella organisation representing the social economy sector across the EU, welcomes the European Commission’s intention to adopt a strengthened strategy for disability in 2021. People with disabilities face many different challenges in relation to their health, physical and cognitive abilities while carrying out daily living activities, which often translates into social inequality and isolation. Employment is therefore not only a human right (as recognized by Article 15 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights ), but also an important safety net which acts as a vehicle for participating in society and as a key facet of identity and self-worth . Social economy is truly a powerful tool that can contribute to the empowerment of people with disabilities, creating meaningful jobs and promoting inclusive working conditions. Indeed, social economy organisations (cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises, among other specific legal forms), represent now more than 2.8 million of enterprises in Europe and employ 13.6 million people in the EU, and they are traditionally more committed to the labour integration of people with disabilities (in some countries they employ up to three times more workers with disabilities than traditional enterprises). Moreover, social economy is particularly important in our current times, since in previous economic crisis, social economy enterprises have been more successful in maintaining jobs and have proven to be more resilient than the public sector and traditional profit maximising companies , as they are people-centred enterprises applying internal flexibility to save jobs and maintain the socio-economic activity. This differentiator makes our companies particularly relevant to minimise the negative impact that the COVID crisis could have on people with disabilities and to help them seizing the opportunities that the different recovery funds could generate. Social economy can contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable society, and its merits as a fundamental actor in the integration of people with disabilities into the labour market has indeed emerged, but this role remains under-researched. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of consistent recognition of social economy at political, regulatory, funding and public procurement levels. In this sense, as supported by many relevant studies , it is fundamental to establish a coherent, rigorous definition of the SE as a concept, and of the different classes of companies and organisations that form part of it. In this regard, we believe that the Strategy should use clear and straightforward concepts, which would facilitate the transposition of EU rules and guidelines into the different realities and contexts of each Member State. In the context of social economy and labour market, it is fundamental to ensure that people with disabilities have access to proper education and training that allows them to stay competitive in the market. Thus, we believe that a commitment should be made to training and qualifying professionals and promoting the conversion and adaptation of social responses that serve all people and that do not discriminate based on disability or support needs.
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Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises and

30 Oct 2020 · Pact for Skills: Proximity and social economy roundtable

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

30 Oct 2020 · Pact for Skills Roundtable on proximity and social economy.