On 20 May, Social Economy Europe (SEE) held its General Assembly with members in Iași, Romania. The Assembly was organised by ADV Romania (a SEE member) as part of the 4th edition of its event “Enterprising for Tomorrow”, which brought together more than 1.000 European social economy actors, and counted with the intervention of SEE President Juan Antonio Pedreño.
“This conference has become a benchmark for the social economy in Romania and Eastern Europe,” stated Pedreño. During his intervention, he also highlighted the main achievements of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) and called for the maintenance of European funds to support the ecosystem. “There is no competitiveness without social cohesion,” he emphasised.
During SEE’s General Assembly, the main agenda items included the presentation of the 2025 annual report, the 2026 work plan, the 2026–2030 strategy, as well as the approval of the organisation’s accounts. “It is an opportunity to take stock of the work carried out, but above all to ambitiously define the future of the European social economy at a particularly decisive moment for our economic model,” emphasised SEE’s President.
The General Assembly reaffirmed Social Economy Europe’s key role in representing the ecosystem in Europe and its commitment to transmitting to European institutions that the social economy is a strategic driver capable of addressing today’s social challenges. In this regard, Pedreño highlighted that SEE has reactivated the Luxembourg Committee, describing its members as “key allies in achieving SEE’s objectives, as there are things that can only be achieved through the Member States. The fact that they have designated SEE to hold the secretariat is a hugely important step in the broader context of the social economy.”
For her part, SEE Director, Sarah de Heusch, noted that the MFF, GBER, public procurement and the ECBA are among the key policy dossiers that will remain crucial for 2026 and beyond. De Heusch also highlighted some of SEE’s main objectives for the coming years: engaging more actively in safeguarding democracy and social justice as well as promoting tech for good. But it is also crucial to enhance visibility of social economy; SEE will work on strengthening a sense of belonging amongst social economy actors and raising awareness about the ecosystem within the broader society, and young people in particular.
Social Economy Europe thanks all members for their active participation during the General Assembly, as well as ADV Romania for the organisation of the great conference and for welcoming us in Iași.
