Great success of the event “The Social Economy and the EU 2024-2029 objectives” at the European Parliament! With more than 150 attendees, it was an opportunity to showcase the contributions of the social economy to the EU 2024-2029 objectives.
Our President, Juan Antonio Pedreño welcomed all the attendees and highlighted:
“People are more important than capital in the social economy and the European Social Economy must play a greater role today in EU policies.”
MEP Maravillas Abadía (EPP, Spain) hosted the event and gave the opening remarks:
“We must put the social economy at the heart of the European agenda. I invite you to believe in a Europe based on a fairer and more developed social economy”
She has expressed her willingness to be co-chair of the Social Economy Intergroup for EPP.
The first roundtable entitled “The Social Economy as an essential tool for the deployment of the EC 2024-2029 policies” showcased how social economy is a key actor for:
Fair and green industrial autonomy, with the intervention of Amaryllis Verhoeven from DG Grow (European Commission) who highlighted:
“Social Economy has a key role for the European Commission’s projects such as addressing the issue of housing in an innovative way.”
Social policies, with the intervention of Heather Roy from Eurodiaconia:
“Social economy is pivotal in assuring those social services and actions that we deeply need in our society.”
Employment and skills, with the intervention of Giuseppe Guerini, member of EESC and President of CECOP:
“We need training, culture, exchanges and commitment. The social economy promotes three types of simultaneous transformation: green transition, digital transition, and social
transition. We can’t have prosperity if we don’t have a fair economy”
Democracy, with the read speech prepared by Mathieu de Poorter from CEDAG:
“Associations and other SE entities are schools of democracy. Hence, supporting the SE is supporting democracy, democratic principles and values in the EU”
Housing, with the intervention of Hanna Surmatz from Philea:
“We need to make sure that people are not cut out from housing. We need to make sure that the policies proposed at the European level take vulnerable people into account. The SE needs a legislative framework to carry out its work”
The second roundtable focused on showing how social economy contributes at different levels of action from the local to the EU level with the following interventions:
The role of local and regional authorities by Carl Forsberg, Région Västra Götaland (Sweden) and Board member of REVES Network:
“A civil society partnership program has been established in our region as civil society and SE organizations bring democracy and social innovation”
Implementation of the recommendations and role of Member States by Ms K. Nowakowska, Deputy Minister, Family, Labour and Social Policy of the government of Poland who intervened through a recorded video in which she explained the importance and status of the Social Economy in Poland.
The implementation of the Social Economy Action Plan: what remains to be done, by Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, DG Empl (European Commission):
“The Social Economy and its Action Plan really do serve as a compass for our work. The Action Plan is the framework, but implementation is the key. We need all the stakeholders to be involved”
The EU Parliament: an essential actor for the SE, by Maravillas Abadía Jover, MEP, EPP who showed her full committment and support for the renewal of the Social Economy Intergroup.
“The EP must have these kinds of debates to create a new social economic policy, and that’s why the intergroup should be renovated. It is an added value for us, for you and for all the people working for the SE”
The conclusions of the event were addressed by:
MEP Irene Tinagli (S&D, Italy) who as an economist highlighted the neccessity of supporting the Social Economy and gave her commitment and support for the renewal of the Social Economy Intergroup. She volunteers to be co-chair of the Social Economy Intergroup for S&D group.
” Economists have tried to make the link between the market and the state, but they’re forgetting the most important pillar: communities. Regions that were growing and innovating most weren’t just investing in infrastructures —they were investing in people. Joining forces, I believe we have to bring the social economy to the forefront of the EU’s agenda”
Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of Social Economy, closed the event by stressing the neccessity of continuing working at all levels: European, national, regional and local and explained the neccessity of having a designated commissioner with responsability for Social Economy in their portfolio:
“We are advocating to have the Commissioners Minzatu, Séjourné and Ribera working together for the Social Economy, with clear mandate in their portfolio”
