SEN#34November 2024

ICA holds its International Conference in New Delhi, with 3,000 participants to witness the launch of the International Year of Co-operatives 2025

European cooperatives come together for a sustainable and competitive Europe, and formulate priorities for the EU legislature 2024-2029

Leaders of the European Parliament and the cooperative ecosystem gathered on 5 November at the Europarliament in Brussels at the event entitled ‘Cooperative vision for a sustainable and competitive Europe: Priorities for the EU legislature 2024-2029’. The event was presented by MEP Irene Tinagli (S&D) and co-organised by CECOP and Cooperatives Europe with the support of REScoop, EACB, Euro Coop and COGECA.

The European Economic and Social Committee urges new measures to facilitate social economy access to public procurement

The Plenary of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) approved on October 23 the Opinion titled “Public procurement and social economy entities”, with Ferre Wyckmans as rapporteur and Alain Coheur as co-rapporteur. In this opinion, the EESC stresses the importance of establishing “innovative criteria with real value, not limited to market-based aspects” for public procurement, considering “the added value generated in terms of social aspects (quality employment, inclusion, and integration of vulnerable people), ecological aspects (environmental impact), or territorial proximity”.

11th European Farmers' Congress calls for a sustainable and competitive future

The 11th European Farmers' Congress, organised by COPA COGECA, was held from 23 to 25 October in Bucharest, where more than 400 participants tried to chart a new course for the continent's agriculture towards a more sustainable and competitive future for the next European legislature. Over the course of two days, ideas and proposals were put forward in an attempt to remedy the major agricultural, livestock and farming obstacles in the face of challenges such as the economic, climate and social ones.

CIRIEC- España encourages Universities in Europe and Latin America to participate in the Report on University Education in the field of Social Economy

CIRIEC-España is lauching a call to academic institutions in Europe and Latin America to collaborate in the preparation of the "Report on University Education in the field of Social Economy in Europe and Latin America." This project aims to collect, highlight, and analyze formal university education offerings and teaching methodologies used in areas such as Social Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise, Social Economy, and related disciplines, including cooperativism, social innovation, solidarity economy, impact enterprises and social impact, among others.

CIRIEC-Spain will hold its XX International Congress of Researchers in Social Economy from April 2 to 4, 2025, in Jaén

The 20th Congress of CIRIEC-Spain marks the consolidation of an almost forty-year tradition of promoting and researching cooperativism and the social economy, with the support of the social economy sector and public administrations. It reflects the continuity and relevance of CIRIEC's research work, as well as the commitment of the academic and professional community to promote and strengthen this field in Spain and internationally. The call for papers is open until 31 December.

France celebrates Social and Solidarity Economy Month 2024 and warns of the consequences for the sector of the new Finance Law

SSE France celebrated Social and Solidarity Economy Month in November with the 17th edition of this event. At the opening ceremony, the main actors in the sector defended the role of the SSE as a response to restoring the bond of trust between citizens and public institutions. And the open letter addressed to Prime Minister Michel Barnier was presented, in which ten leaders of the French social economy warn that the new finance law could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs in the sector.

The annual conference of FEBEA - European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks - is brimming with youth and unity for a socially transformative movement

A key meeting of the European ethical finance sector took place in Dublin on 26-27 September: the FEBEA (Federation of European Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers) annual meeting and conference. Hosted by Community Finance Ireland, FEBEA members gathered to vote on the future of the organisation, but also to attend presentations and conferences, to dialogue and debate, and to rethink the social and financial context in which we find ourselves.

New issue of the Portuguese journal "Economia Social, Leituras e Debates" focused on innovation

The Portuguese journal Economia Social, Leituras e Debates has published its 22nd issue for October 2024, with a special focus on innovation in the sector, as a social and political tool for learning and advancing a sustainable economy.