News of the European Social Economy
SEN#28March 2024
The role of agri-cooperatives as social economy enterprises in ensuring the sustainable development of the EU's rural communities
By Lennart Nilsson, president of Cogeca
"As agri-cooperatives, deeply rooted in our rural communities and focused on the long term, we understand the importance of good management of our land to ensure future food production and that rural areas are able to maintain their communities. This long-term approach is what sets us apart from other companies and is also one of our key strengths. This includes actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change, but also to ensure that our use of natural resources and treatment of farmland is sustainable".
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20 European organizations sign a joint letter to request an ambitious EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 on social and health topics
Among the signatory organizations are the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM), the European Public Health Alliance, the European Association working for Carers, or the European Anti-Poverty Network.
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The ninth AMICE Congress ‘The Art of Mutuality’ will take place on 3-4 June 2024 in Bilbao
The ninth AMICE Congress will take place on 3-4 June 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. The host for this edition is AMICE member Seguros Lagun Aro (Mondragon Corporation). Since its launch eighteen years ago, the AMICE Congress has become the most important event at which European mutual and cooperative insurers, their trading partners and EU policymakers meet and discuss the latest regulatory, legislative and international developments that are likely to affect their business.
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The ENUIES Network of CIRIEC-Spain held the 5th University Week of Social Economy, with excellent participation from Spanish and Latin American universities
In its fifth edition, the #SemanaUniversitariaES set a new record for activities organized, with 150 events in 34 universities across 8 countries. The total number of participants in all activities is estimated at around 5,000. Once again, it was a great success for the ENUIES Network of CIRIEC-Spain, whose aim was to showcase the intense university teaching and research activity on the sector of cooperatives, worker-owned enterprises, mutual societies, social enterprises, and the third sector, and to strengthen links with representatives of the social economy and their networks.
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'ESS France' launches "Imagin'Ère de l'ESS", to propel the social and solidarity economy into a new era
Ahead of the SSE France Congress to be held on 12 and 13 June, the organisation representing the French social economy wishes to publish a manifesto detailing its collective roadmap for the development of the SSE. To achieve this, it has launched ‘Imagin'Ère de l'ESS’, an initiative inviting all those who work in SSE on a daily basis to contribute by reflecting on the next ten years, "to propel SSE into a new era".
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Milan Declaration of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV): A Statement for Peace
On the occasion of its 16th Annual Meeting, in Padua and Milan (Italy), hosted by the Banca Ética Group, the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) has issued a declaration expressing solidarity with all those working to support victims of conflict and the pursuit of peace. With this declaration, the network, which includes over 70 cooperative and ethical financial entities worldwide, calls on financial institutions around the world to follow its lead and divest from the arms industry.
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Mesmer+ project: 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲
The MESMER+ project aims to establish an up-to-date in-depth mapping on activity and representation of social economy actors – both from the employers’ and employees’ side – within social dialogue institutions and various industrial relations settings in nine countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Ireland, North Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
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Book: Transition et alternatives économiques. Recherches sur l’économie sociale et solidaire et le développement durable
What are the links between the social/solidarity-based economy (SSE) and sustainable development (SD)? This book, edited by Éric Dacheux, reviews the definitions of these concepts in a critical way and examines, in the field, the connections between sustainable practices and solidarity initiatives.
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Futures Philanthropy – Gathering of Leaders – Horizons of Hope: 4-7 April in Turin
Futures Philanthropy will host its next Gathering of Leaders “Horizons of Hope: Navigating Challenges, Reimagining Philanthropy in a New Key” on 4-7 April in Turin, co-hosted by Compagnia di San Paolo and the Together Foundation. The event will delve into Europe’s challenges and explore new dimensions of philanthropy, and against the backdrop of climate and democracy crises, reflect on the past, look forward to future scenarios and emerging opportunities, all the while redefining the role of philanthropy as an ecosystem catalyst.
+infoEuropean Microfinance Network (EMN) Annual Conference in Bucharest, 20-21 June
The conference will be preceded by a series of activities, including the General Assembly of the Network, which will take place on 19 June. Created in 2003 by Adie - France, NEF - UK and evers&jung - Germany, and with the support of the European Commission and the French Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), the European Microfinance Network is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation that promotes microfinance as a tool to fight social and financial exclusion in Europe through self-employment and microenterprise creation.
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