To mark Social Economy Week – 16-18 September 2025 – Social Economy Europe co-organised the Social Economy European Summit in Murcia – the 2025 Spanish capital of the social economy.
The Summit commenced on Tuesday 16 September with a meeting of the European Parliament Intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest. The Intergroup – a platform for exchange between the European Parliament and civil society – works to ensure the inclusion of the social economy and services of general interest in the development of EU policies and legislation. This mandate in particular includes ensuring that the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) is fully implemented. SEE has served as Secretariat of the Intergroup since it was created in 1990.
A welcome address was presented by SEE President Juan Antonio Pedreño kicking off the week-long Summit which serves to make visible the alliance between the European institutions, governments, and all the actors forming the backbone of the social economy. Likening the cooperation between different actors and level of government to sports teams, the President insisted social economy actors and supporters must play as one team – including institutions, governments, companies, and citizens.
“The social economy responds to the great European challenges - with facts, with examples. In times of uncertainty, the social economy provides certainties. In times of fragmentation, it builds trust. The social economy is a success story of the Europe we’ve built over sixty years - resilient, innovative, transformative.”
Region of Murcia Minister for Business, Employment and Social Economy Maria Isabel Lopez Aragon spoke about the link between EU policies and regional development, citing the Region of Murcia as a shining example of what can be achieved with the proper alignment.
A video recording from Intergroup Co-President Irene Tinagli touched on the ongoing work of the Intergroup in the current EU agenda speaking to the Intergroup’s success in showing that the social economy is not an abstract, but a “a lived reality delivering solutions in housing, energy, education and more.
"The future of the social economy in Europe won’t be decided by one institution or country. It’s a shared journey - rooted in collaboration, inclusion and sustainability."
Mid-term review of the Social Economy Action Plan
The first roundtable discussion assessed the state of play of the implementation of the SEAP, exploring what advancements have been made and challenges faced to date in the implementation – as well as what can be improved for its ongoing roll-out.
In a recorded video address, Francesco Corti, Member of Cabinet Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, spoke about the current priorities of the European Commission regarding the SEAP’s implementation and how instruments like public procurement and state aid must empower the ecosystem.
Intergroup Co-Chair Maravillas Abadía shared her view on the ongoing political topics that impact the social economy from a legislative perspective in Parliament, noting that while the SEAP has seen many positive outcomes it is not exempt of challenges. These include unequal implementation of the social economy national frameworks, especially in member states where the social economy is virtually invisible and unknown. Funding is also a paramount concern, with many entities in the social economy unable to access funding because of complex processes. Funding must be adapted to the reality of social economy actors.
Co-Chair Abadía also called on the European Commission for coherence and leadership in terms of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
”The social economy is not a secondary actor and must not be left behind. It proves it's possible to join social profits and social inclusion and it's proven to the Institutions it's an employment driver. 2025 will be a crucial year of seeing how the SEAP has performed and how it can be improved for the future.”
Member of Parliament Branislav Ondruš reiterated the legislative impact of politics on the social economy, as well as shared his perspective from the national government level having served as Minister of the Social Economy in Slovakia. Ondruš hailed Spain’s social economy as a model, attributing its success to historical growth from investment. He mentioned how important the existence of the SEAP is to encourage member states with a small SE ecosystem to develop policies for SE. He highlighted Slovakia’s challenges, including limited capital for social enterprises, often outpaced by tech startups. The 2021 SEAP aims to address such gaps, while Slovakia’s 2018 Act on Social Economy, with 66 registered enterprises by 2019, and a forthcoming 2030 Action Plan signal progress. Ondruš advocated for tailored state aid and socially responsible public procurement to drive sustainable growth.
SEE Director Sarah de Heusch expressed that the SEAP has advanced the recognition and support of the SE by providing a common EU-wide definition, encouraging national strategies, and improving access to funding through various instruments, though gaps remain. However, its implementation faces challenges as geopolitical priorities such as defense, and competitiveness often overshadow social concerns, with funding pressures reflected in the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations. This is a mistake as the EC would win from integrating SE into the EU’s industrial strategy, recognizing its role in industrial autonomy, local resilience, and the green and digital transitions. In terms of Defence, SE is a pillar of democracy and therefore needs more support to counter rising attacks to democracy. Ultimately, SE is uniquely positioned to help the EU navigate current challenges, as it is competitive, socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and inherently democratic—placing the economy at the service of society.
Shaping the Multiannual Financial Framework
The second roundtable focused on the ongoing negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) which have already signalled significant changes to social funding that impact not just the implementation of the SEAP but the social economy ecosystem in its entirety.
Intergroup Co-Chair Ignazio Marino shared his perspective from the Parliamentary side via a recorded video address:
"The social economy is growing into a key force for recovery - creating quality jobs, defending rights, and driving sustainability. The Commission must be a true partner in this momentum. Our biggest challenges are our greatest opportunities. 2025 marks a turning point. The SEAP defines the next decade - but success depends on partnership. Social economy actors need support, not setbacks. Together, we can redesign Europe’s economy with courage, solidarity and vision."
Representing the Council of Europe Development Bank, Senior Advisor Holger Seifert spoke about the financial instruments in place at the bank that support the social economy, including InvestEU, cohesion funds, the European Regional Development Fund, and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
Lourdes Marquez detailed the opinions adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) regarding the MFF and the social economy, notably that key instrumental funds for social economy actors like the cohesion fund and European Social Fund (ESF) should be untouchable in order to keep the social economy innovating and advancing to remain current and competitive. Complementary funds are needed to continue the roadmap laid by the SEAP.
Rounding out the discussion, Deputy Secretary General of EASPD Timothy Ghilain elaborated on how the ESF is crucial to the ongoing work of the social economy, with a clear target and clear demarcation specific to different areas which has allowed this fund to support social economy work. State aid and public procurement are equally crucial to success.
Seeing the social economy in action
Following lunch, attendees were treated to a field trip visit to a selection of social economy initiatives across the Region of Murcia.
La Solar Energía is a citizen-led cooperative in Bullas making clean, local solar energy accessible and affordable across the region. Attendees spoke with the cooperative organisers and enjoyed the opportunity to witness the Green Transition in progress.
Visitors to the Hefame cooperative learned how the social enterprise distributes pharmaceutical products across Murcia to partners and customers daily ensuring timely access to medicines across the region.
Alimer is the Region of Murcia’s biggest agri-food cooperative and is made up of more than 1,750 members including farmers, stockmen and horticulturists. They supply fruits and vegetables, livestock feed, cheeses, fertilizers and other supplies, plants and flowers.
In the Education sector, attendees were treated to a visit to the cooperative school Colegio Los Olivos which offers educational services across all stages from elementary school to secondary school, as well as vocational training. The school promotes cooperative values: respect for the environment, gender and racial equality, development of creative capacity and a critical spirit through active teaching, and promotion of social habits of behaviour.
Not only has the initiative Sustratos del Sureste become a champion of the circular economy, but the enterprise has also become a reference in the substrate sector. Founded in 2013, it produces coconut fibre substrates for the agricultural and ornamental industries with the best quality and phytosanitary controls offering more than 100 types of products.
Visit to the City of Murcia
The day concluded with a guided tour of Murcia, followed by a reception and dinner at Murcia’s town hall hosted by the City of Murcia – partners of SEE’s 2025 Social Economy European Summit together with the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, the Region of Murcia, CEPES, and Ucomur.
About SEE’s Social Economy European Summit
The Intergroup meeting was one event out of several making up the high-level Social Economy European Summit, which took place in Murcia, Spain during Social Economy Week (16-18 September 2025) and brought together stakeholders and actors from across the European social economy ecosystem.
Along with our co-organisers and sponsors, SEE was delighted to host a the 3rd edition of the Social Economy Awards, as well as our Conference: Implementing the Social Economy Action Plan. The summit concluded with meetings between social economy networks and a research and innovation discussion. For more information on the summit and to read recaps from the events, visit our Summit web page.
Pictures by Juanchi López and Paula de Diego
