Social Economy Europe’s President, Juan Antonio Pedreño, participated in the 4th edition of the event “Enterprising for Tomorrow”. Organised by ADV Romania, the event brought together more than 1.000 representatives of the European social economy.
“This conference has become a benchmark for the social economy in Romania and Eastern Europe”, stated Pedreño. During his intervention, he also highlighted the work carried out in recent years to strengthen the institutional recognition of the social economy in Europe and to transmit to European institutions that this economic model is a strategic driver capable of addressing current challenges through social cohesion, sustainability, and competitiveness. In this context, Pedreño recalled that in 2015, the Council of Ministers of the European Union recognised the social economy as a key driver of Europe’s economic and social development.
Pedreño also analysed the current situation in the European Union at a decisive moment for shaping the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF), which will determine Europe’s economic and social model for the coming years. In this context, he warned of the risk of weakening Europe’s social pillars and recalled the words of Enrico Letta (Italy’s Prime minister from 2013 to 2014), who stated that “competitiveness cannot be understood without social cohesion”.
SEE’s President also highlighted the progress driven by the Social Economy Action Plan and stressed the need to preserve the European Social Fund as an essential tool for ensuring territorial and social cohesion in Europe.
“The European project cannot be built by renouncing its founding values or by weakening the social policies that underpin territorial and social cohesion”, stated Pedreño. He also expressed concern about a possible reduction in resources and autonomy that could place the European Social Fund in competition with other strategic funds, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The 2026 edition of “Enterprising for Tomorrow” featured thematic conference sessions and workshops, such as “Digitalisation in the Social Economy” or “Socially responsible procurement”, the Buy Social Expo, the Accelerator of Social Enterprises Gala, and dedicated networking opportunities connecting actors from Eastern and Western Europe.
Some key takeaways from the numerous panels and meetings included:
– “Innovation does not arise in isolation, but when ecosystems work together.”
– “Social exclusion is more expensive than social inclusion.”
– “Every time, the social economy has been there during different crises to preserve local jobs and contribute to resilient communities; if we unlock the potential of the social economy, we will achieve a more sustainable and fairer Europe.”
–“Economic development and competitiveness cannot be achieved without social cohesion.”
–“Public procurement, not based solely on the lowest price, is one of the most efficient and secure investments public authorities at all levels can make in the social economy to strengthen the sector and build our future.”
–“To have a vibrant and dynamic social economy, we need robust ecosystems that are built and maintained collectively.”
–“You cannot put impact in an Excel sheet.”
Additionally, the day after the conference, Social Economy Europe took part in a study visit to ADV Romania, a pioneering ecosystem of social enterprises in Iași. Through its network of six interconnected enterprises, ADV supports the inclusion of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through employment, vocational training, social entrepreneurship, and financial services. Participants learned about initiatives ranging from work integration and inclusive recruitment to responsible tourism and social finance, all built around reinvesting economic activity into community impact. The visit also highlighted ADV’s important role in shaping Romania’s social economy landscape and supporting emerging social entrepreneurs through accelerator programmes and tailored mentoring.
A second visit focused on the Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ), a European Digital Innovation Hub supporting digital transformation across sectors in North Romania. Hosted at the Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iași, participants explored how innovation, AI, and digital tools can strengthen social enterprises and public institutions through tailored assessments, technology support, and funding opportunities. The visit also showcased initiatives such as SustainX, which helps SMEs collaborate and access EU funding for sustainable innovation, as well as a practical workshop on ethical AI and living lab methodologies. Together, these experiences illustrated how digital innovation and cross-sector collaboration can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable social impact ecosystems.
Overall, these events reinforced the ecosystem’s shared commitment to further strengthening the voice of the social economy within Europe and advancing an economic model that is more inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with the founding values of the European Union project.
