News of the European Social Economy
SEN#35December 2024
Activist scholarship in the US Social and Solidarity Economy
By Christina Clamp, Southern New Hampshire College (retired)
The Solidarity and Social Economy (SSE) is very active in the United States. The USSEN (About USSEN – U.S. Solidarity Economy Network) is the hub for the SSE in the United States and has strong ties to such US cooperative groups as the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Wellspring Cooperative and Cooperation Jackson. The Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Network (MASEN) is affiliated with USSEN. USSEN has a good map with businesses they believe are committed to SE principles. The New Economy Coalition also looks at US SE work.
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Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu assumes EU Social Economy competences at the request of President Von der Leyen
The President of the European Commission has entrusted the full development of the European Social Economy Action Plan to Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Employment, and Training. Social Economy Europe has expressed satisfaction with this appointment, which aligns with the proposals of the European social economy sector.
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The UN adopts a second resolution reaffirming the Social and Solidarity Economy as key to sustainable development
On November 26, during the 24th plenary meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) as part of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a new resolution on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) was presented and adopted with 175 votes in favor and none against, highlighting its role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth.
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The SSE Presented at COP29 in Baku as a Key Agent for a Just Transition
On November 20th, during COP29 in Baku (Azerbaijan), the event “Strengthening Trade Sustainability through the Integration of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) Entities for a Just Transition” was held, organized by UNCTAD in cooperation with UNTFSSE. At the event, experts from various organizations, moderated by Víctor Meseguer, discussed the role of SSE in achieving a just transition towards a sustainable economy.
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UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 was officially launched
The 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) was officially launched at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly, in New Delhi, India. The conference attracted delegates from over 100 countries who discussed how cooperatives build prosperity for all, focusing on four conference pillars: Reaffirming the cooperative identity; Enabling supportive policies; Developing strong leadership: and Building a sustainable future.
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Call for Papers for the 10th CIRIEC International Research Conference on Social Economy - Bordeaux, 27-29 October 2025
The 10th CIRIEC International Research Conference on Social Economy will be held from 27 to 29 October 2025 in the city of Bordeaux, France, under the theme ‘The role of the Social and Solidarity Economy in the socio-ecological transition’. This event, to be held on the premises of Sciences Po Bordeaux, represents a key platform for academics, researchers and practitioners seeking to explore the impact and contributions of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) to major contemporary challenges.
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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.
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Copa and Cogeca welcome the first political initiative of the new European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, to strengthen farmers in the food value chain
Copa and Cogeca, representing European farmers and agricultural cooperatives, have welcomed the first initiative of the new European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen. This is a document presented to the European Commission in which he wishes to improve the current position of farmers with two proposals for regulations, one linked to Unfair Commercial Practices, and the other aimed at improving the framework of the Common Market Organisation (CMO).
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Ethical Finance Foundation and FEBEA publish their Report on Ethical Finance in Europe
The Ethical Finance Foundation and the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA) have published the 7th edition of the Ethical Finance in Europe Report, an analysis that highlights the impact of financial institutions operating under alternative banking models in the different European countries in which they are represented. The report compares the differential performance of ethical banks and commercial banks on key economic and social issues.
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Philea publishes new edition of legal and tax profiles of foundations in European countries
The European philanthropy association Philea is publishing a series of reports on the legal and fiscal environment for philanthropy in 40 countries in Europe. The profiles provide an in-depth analysis of requirements such as registration, reporting, economic activity, governance and tax treatment, and outline trends and regulatory developments in each country.
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The EU Code of Conduct for Data Sharing in the Social Economy is presented
The European Union has launched a Code of Conduct for the sharing and management of data in the social economy. The Code has been developed by a committee of experts to ensure the values and principles that will guide responsible practices for the use and exchange of data within social economy enterprises and organizations. The work has been facilitated by the organizations Waag Futurelab and Commons Network, with support from the European Commission.
Read moreSocial Economy Schedule
ICA CCR 2025 Global Research Conference - July 8-11, Montréal, Canada
The ICA CCR Global Research Conference 2025 will bring together numerous stakeholders from the international cooperative ecosystem, including practicioners and policymakers. In addition to discussing the role of cooperatives in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the conference will also be a great opportunity to explore topics related to cooperation, including cooperative governance, business models, and education. Hosted by the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins (IICADD), participants will enjoy the new state-of-the-art HEC Montréal Hélène-Desmarais building in downtown Montreal. The conference is organized in partnership with CASC (Canadian Association for Studies in Cooperation).
+infoThe Mont Blanc Meetings return on 16 January 2025 in Geneva at ILO headquarters
The Mont Blanc Meetings return on 16 January 2025 in Geneva, at the ILO headquarters. The International Forum of the SSE takes up the DNA of the original Mont Blanc Meetings, now in their 20th year: a place of exchange and sharing between the SSE business movement, major international institutions and civil society to respond to today's major challenges. The 2025 event will be developed around 2 panels, on the financing of the SSE and the links between CSR and the SSE with exceptional guests such as Nicolas Schmit.
+infoSSE Global Forum - Bordeaux, 29-31 October 2025
In autumn 2025, the Global Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy will be held for the first time in France, after Seoul, Montreal, Bilbao, Mexico City and Dakar. Bordeaux GSEF 2025 will be an important milestone on the road to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, 5 years away from the 2030 Agenda. The aim is to share ideas and practices that can make the SSE the standard for tomorrow's economy.
+info10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise
The EMES International Research Network, in partnership with the Rotterdam School of Management of Erasmus University and Utrecht University are pleased to announce the 10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise on the theme Scaling Through Communities: The Role of Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises in Boosting Societal Transitions. The conference will take place from 3rd to 7th November 2025 and it promises to be a special edition in several ways.
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