Europe’s Social Economy Action Plan is taking shape!

July 14, 2022

Europe’s Social Economy Action Plan is taking shape!

Following the European Commission’s Social Economy Action Plan published in 2022, the plenary session of the European Parliament on July 6 approved the report promoted by the Social Economy Intergroup, headed by the MEP and spokesperson for Employment and Social Affairs, Jordi Cañas, to implement the European Social Economy Action Plan.

The report calls for an action-oriented strategy to help Europe’s economies grow while protecting their citizens' well being through job creation initiatives. What are the key aspects worth noting?

● A plan that includes an appropriate legislative and financial framework

The text approved by the European Parliament calls for a legislative and financial framework that promotes the social economy business model throughout the EU.

It urges the different states to provide a common definition of social economy in accordance with the main characteristics of the model, in order to facilitate the creation of social economy entities in all countries.

In addition, the proposal calls for tapping into the funding potential that the EU has put in place through the recovery plans, and investing in social economy projects that drive fair green and digital transitions.

● A plan with a realistic timetable and roll-out strategy

The proposal also calls for a timetable to be set for the implementation of the Action Plan and for the horizontal mainstreaming of the social economy in all relevant EU policies, programmes and practices.

Furthermore, in order to give the sector greater visibility, governments are called upon to appoint social economy officers and to create contact points to facilitate access to finance and all tools to support entrepreneurship through a one-stop shop.

● A plan that includes considerable training

The report also proposes specific training for young people, such as a Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy, greater use of Erasmus Plus and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs opportunities and the integration of this model at all levels of education.

On the other hand, it points out that women represent more than 60% of employees in the social economy, and the wage and leadership gaps are smaller than in other models, so it calls on the Commission and the Member States to remove all barriers for women to achieve gender equality; it calls for the strengthening of the gender perspective in policies and access to funding for women involved in social economy entities.

Congratulations to the Commission and the Parliament for these important steps forward. Now it’s time for action and partnerships between companies, associations, cooperatives and investors to continue Europe’s social economy transformation.

CPM