Ministers from Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Slovenia joined the initiative led by the Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, calling for an adequate representation of the Social Economy in the new structure of the European Commission, as well as for a specific commissioner with responsibilities in the field.
The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission, with a copy to the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The letter was signed by Yves Coppieters, Minister of Health, Environment, Solidarity, and Social Economy of Wallonia (on behalf of Belgium); Robert Habeck, Federal Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany; Georges Mischo, Minister of Labor of Luxembourg; and Luka Mesec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities of Slovenia, as well as Yolanda Díaz.
The signatories expressed their discontent with the latest published structure for the new Commission, which is currently being formed following the European elections. They note the absence of a specific department to promote concrete policies for the Social Economy, despite the European Social Economy Action Plan and the European Council’s Recommendation for creating a framework favorable to the Social Economy.
“The Social Economy is essential for building a more democratic, green, and inclusive Europe. From the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, we launched a request, together with four other countries, for the new Commission to address the present and future of a cutting-edge sector,” Díaz communicated in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In the letter, made public by the minister herself on the same social media platform, she noted, “We find it concerning that none of the mandate letters sent to the designated Commissioners refer to responsibilities or competencies in the field of Social Economy.”
The text addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as to the three Vice-Presidents of the Commission, emphasizes that it is “essential that the new Commission works effectively in this direction.”
The five European ministers are also calling for a specific commissioner with responsibilities in this field to ensure close cooperation between the Vice-Presidents, supporting the Social Economy sector.
An “essential” sector for Europe’s future
According to the latest data from the Commission, compiled by CIRIEC and Euricse, the Social Economy in the EU consists of 4.3 million companies and entities, with 11.5 million paid employees and more than one trillion euros in revenues.
The letter stresses that the Social Economy is a productive model that generates quality jobs, fosters social cohesion, and promotes more equitable and fair societies through equality and wealth redistribution. For this reason, the Social Economy is increasingly necessary “within the overall objective of social cohesion and economic democracy, and in the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.”
After a productive legislative term (2019-2024), during which the European Social Economy Action Plan and the Council’s Recommendation on developing of the Social Economy framework were approved, the ministers are calling for a firm commitment to this economic model. They urge that it be declared a political priority and that access to existing EU funding be promoted in accordance with the needs of the entities that provide the added value of social benefits.
