News of the European Social Economy
SEN#39April 2025
Involvement of the academic world in the challenges and strategies of the social and solidarity economy in Latin America
By Marietta Bucheli
"In Latin America, there are many different interpretations of the social and solidarity economy, the organisations that make it up, and the regulatory framework that defines them. Support to the SSE in terms of strengthening, promotion and protection is provided with the participation of the academic world, various public authorities, research institutes and the organisations themselves that are part of this economy, among others. Understanding of this economy is achieved through research, advice and consultation in various fields that explain how these organisations transform the economy."
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GECES members send an Open Letter to DG GROW of the European Commission, concerned about the abolition of the Social Economy Unit
GECES members have expressed their surprise at the European Commission's recent decision to abolish the Unit dedicated to Social Economy within DG GROW, which will now be solely under the responsibility of DG EMPL. This measure has been met with concern, particularly given the importance of this sector in recent years within the Commission itself.
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421 Papers Received for the 10th International CIRIEC Research Conference on Social Economy – Bordeaux, October 2025
The 10th International CIRIEC Research Conference on Social Economy will take place from October 27 to 29, 2025, in the city of Bordeaux, France, under the theme “The Role of the Social and Solidarity Economy in the Socio-Ecological Transition.” Once the call for papers closed, the event—hosted at Sciences Po Bordeaux—received a total of 421 full paper submissions from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. This figure marks a record in the history of CIRIEC International Research Conferences, which has also announced that the registration period and website are now open.
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The University of Jaén successfully hosts the 20th International Congress of Social Economy Researchers of CIRIEC-Spain
On April 3rd and 4th, the University of Jaén hosted the 20th International Congress of Social Economy Researchers organized by CIRIEC-Spain. This landmark event brought together leading figures from academia, public institutions, and the social economy sector from across Spain, Ibero-America, and Europe. With nearly 250 participants from ten different countries, the Congress not only set a new attendance record but also reaffirmed its status as a strategic hub for cooperation between universities, the social economy sector, and public administrations.
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The 6th University Week of Social Economy, organized by the ENUIES Network, of CIRIEC-Spain, concluded with 150 activities across 36 universities
The opening day of the CIRIEC-Spain researchers' congress in Jaén also served as the closing and summary session for the 6th University Week of Social Economy, held from March 24 to April 3. With the latest registered activities during the #SemanaUniversitariaES 2025, around 150 events were organized in 36 universities across Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. Participation is estimated at around 5,000 people, marking yet another success for the ENUIES Network, the Interuniversity Research Network on Social Economy affiliated to CIRIEC-Spain.
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COPA-COGECA send an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen requesting the preservation of CAP funds
Recent discussions on the reallocation of EU funding into a single fund that would mean the disappearance of the pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could, according to COPA-COGECA, have far-reaching consequences for food production and food security, as well as for the survival of dynamic and populated rural areas in the EU.
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AIM Calls for Strengthening Solidarity as the foundation for the Future of Health in Europe
The International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) has published the summary report of its General Assembly held on November 13 and 14, 2024, in Brussels, hosted by Mutualité Chrétienne. The event brought together representatives from European mutuals, experts, and policymakers to discuss the main current challenges in the health and social protection sector.
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FEBEA Launches Award for Young Researchers on Ethical Finance
The European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA) has launched the Youth Award on Ethical Finance and the Future, open to young European researchers aged 18 to 35. The award aims to assess young people's knowledge and interest in Ethical Finance, seek innovative ideas for the sector, and strengthen the relationship between FEBEA and young people.
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The European Economic and Social Committee Celebrates the Civil Society Week 2025
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) celebrated the Civil Society Week 2025, held from March 17 to 20 in Brussels, under the theme "Strengthening Cohesion and Participation in Polarized Societies." The event brought together more than 800 people, including representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and the European social economy, including cooperatives, NGOs, and youth associations, as well as a wide range of stakeholders and journalists from various media outlets.
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Social Platform publishes the document “A post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework for Social Europe”
In this new document, Social Platform proposes that the EU budget should not only focus on economic competitiveness but also on social well-being and cohesion. It argues that a strong social Europe is essential for long-term competitiveness, and that social investments should not be viewed as expenses, but as key elements of resilience, cohesion and prosperity. The Platform defends that the next MFF must reflect this vision by prioritising the social over the military or exclusively economic.
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Event in the European Parliament in Brussels: Revision of Public Procurement Directives – Setting the Scene for Social Economy
On May 13th, from 10.30 to 12.30 at the European Parliament in Brussels, an event will take place on the revision of the public procurement directives - setting the scene for social economy, services of general interest & the EU. This event is organized in the framework of the Social Economy and Services of General Interest Intergroup.
+infoSave the Date: 2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress - Barcelona, 29-30 September 2025
The dates for the 2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress are now available. After the great success of the first edition, held in June 2023 in Cordoba, the 2nd Legal Congress will take place in Barcelona on 29-30 September 2025 under the theme ‘Legal challenges of the social economy: sustainability and efficiency’. Save the date!
The Mont Blanc Meetings 2026 will be held on 29 and 30 January in Geneva
The 12th Mont Blanc Meetings will be held again in Geneva in 2026. These meetings are the flagship event of the International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESSFI). They bring together SSE leaders from around the world to discuss global challenges and share solutions. The 11th edition, in January 2025, also took place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the ILO headquarters, under the theme ‘SSE facing the role of finance and economic pluralism, supporting the SDGs and social development’.
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