In anticipation of the upcoming European Elections, Social Economy Europe (SEE) has released the document ‘Social Economy, a driver of economic and social progress in Europe. SEE Memorandum for the European elections 2024,’ outlining its proposals and demands for the next EU legislative term.
The European Elections present an opportunity to advance political objectives and build upon significant milestones and goals achieved in recent years. In this regard, Social Economy Europe (SEE) is committed to supporting the growth of the social economy across Europe and encourages EU institutions to continue their efforts by incorporating three main proposals: the renewal of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup; the appointment of a European Commissioner responsible for the Social Economy, and to continue and further develop the implementation of the Social Economy Action Plan.
Renewal of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup
Social Economy Europe strongly urges the European Parliament to renew and maintain the Social Economy Intergroup, “a vital body for incorporating the perspective of the social economy into the legislative and non-legislative work of the European Parliament”.
Established in 1990 and active since then, the Social Economy Intergroup serves to ensure continuous dialogue among all European Institutions, Member States, and social economy stakeholders. SEE has been the secretariat of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup since its inception.
The action of the Social Economy Intergroup and its members has been crucial for the development and adoption of the Social Economy Action Plan in 2021. “To keep the social economy high on the political agenda and ensure that the Action Plan for the Social Economy is adequately implemented, it is crucial to ensure that the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup continues and maintains Social Economy Europe as its secretariat,” states SEE.
Appointment of a European Commissioner responsible for the Social Economy
Furthermore, Social Economy Europe believes that appointing a European Commissioner committed to the Social Economy is crucial to ensure the continuity of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) and the development of the social economy in general.
SEE considers the joint work of DG EMPL and DG GROW on the social economy to have been crucial in recent years. However, it believes that a commissioner committed to the social economy is necessary to ensure that the SEAP is implemented and remains on the Commission’s political agenda, that its implementation is properly monitored, and that it is consistently integrated with other relevant EU policies (sectoral, international cooperation, competition, etc.).
According to SEE, “such an appointment would ensure that the European Commission maintains and strengthens its commitment to the social economy as a cross-cutting issue involving all sectors and different DGs coordinating actions related to the sector.”
Continuing and further developing the implementation of the Social Economy Action Plan
SEE and its members are stakeholders supporting the implementation of the SEAP in many different ways. To achieve the proper implementation and pursue the established objectives, SEE proposes the following actions:
a. Incorporate the social economy transversally into all EU industrial, economic, and social policies.
b. Support and encourage Member States to develop enabling frameworks and other actions based on the Council Recommendation on the Development of Framework Conditions for the Social Economy.
c. Support the social economy with financial assistance.
d. Improve and strengthen training and education in social economy at all levels.
e. Strengthen state aid and public procurement.
f. Develop fiscal policies tailored to its characteristics.
g. Improve measurement and evaluation methods regarding the contribution of the social economy to the socio-economic development of the EU.
h. Strengthen the role of the Social Economy in the EU’s external agenda.
For more information, please refer to the document.
