social economy
The social economy is made up of a diversity of enterprises and organisations such as cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises among other forms that can be specific to each country.
They are united around the values of: primacy of people and the social objective over capital, democratic governance, solidarity and the reinvestment of most profits to carry out sustainable development objectives.
enterprises and organisations
jobs
turnover
Contributing to
QUALITY JOBS
INCLUSION
INNOVATION
DEMOCRACY
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOLIDARITY
GENDER EQUALITY
ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
COHESION
DISCOVER THE LATEST NEWS
SENIR project officially launches to build a stronger and more connected social economy in Europe
The Strengthening Social Economy Networks for Impact and Resilience (SENIR) project officially launched on 6 May 2026 with a successful virtual kick-off meeting. Financed under the
The role of the Social Economy in fighting poverty
On 6 May 2026, the European Commission presented its first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, a landmark initiative aimed at addressing poverty in a comprehensive way, tackling all
Democracy at work: Social Economy actors bringing EU values to citizens
“Democracy at Work: Social Economy actors bringing EU values to citizens” was a three-session online event that took place on the 9th, 16th, and 23rd of April. These online
Implementing the SEAP – Mid-term Review & Next Steps
Social Economy Europe hosted “Implementing the SEAP – Mid-term review & Next Steps” on the 23rd of April 2026. The session focused on the implementation of the
SEIG online public hearing: Towards a Council Recommendation for social economy, boosting the convergence of Social Economy enabling frameworks
On Friday 4 March 2022, the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup, whose secretariat is provided by Social Economy Europe, organises the online public hearing Towards a
OSCE Event in Tirana: Young Social Economy Entrepreneurship for sustainable development in Western Balkans
In the context of the YDEAS II (Young Developers and Entrepreneurs to Advance Start-ups) project, OSCE organises a two-day kick off meeting in Tirana. The project,
Strasbourg Conference: Social Economy, the Future of Europe
This conference, organised French Presidency of the Council of the EU, is taking place in Strasbourg. This event is a great opportunity to debate and exchange
EU Civil Society Days 2022: Workshop 6, A Green Social Market economy for the Future of Europe
In the context of the Civil Society Days 2022, Social Economy Europe in collaboration with the Union of European Federalists (UEF), organises the online Workshop 6,
Online webinar sessions – Democracy at Work: Social Economy actors bringing EU values to citizens
“Democracy at Work: Social Economy actors bringing EU values to citizens” is a three-session online event that will take place on the 9th, 16th, and 23rd of April 2026
Webinar: Social Economy and Cooperatives – the backbone of an inclusive answer to housing crisis
This key Webinar Session aims to forward the Social Economy and Cooperatives solutions to the Housing Crisis. Cooperatives and social economy actors are not a niche,
Meeting: Research and Innovation in the Social Economy Ecosystem
As part of SEE’s Social Economy European Summit, we are delighted to co-organise a programme of events in the 2025 Spanish capital of the social economy,
