1 year of the Social Economy Action Plan – 10 years of SEE
17/11/2022
On 7 December 2022, launch event to celebrate 1 year of Social Economy Action Plan – 10 years of SEE
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The Social Economy Intergroup was first created in 1990 and continuously active since then. It has been serving to ensure a permanent dialogue between all European Institutions, Member States and the Social Economy sector. It is of vital importance to mainstream the social economy perspective into the legislative and non-legislative work of the European Parliament.
Social Economy Europe is the Secretariat of the Intergroup, supporting it by: drafting position papers, letters to Commissioners, amendments proposals, proposals of written and oral questions, providing strategic advice to the bureau and Intergroup members; providing updates on the latest political developments in the Social Economy ecosystem both at EU and global-level; supporting meeting and events logistics; supporting online communications of the Intergroup; and facilitating dialogue between the Intergroup and the whole Social Economy ecosystem.
In December 2019, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament approved the re-establishment of the Social Economy Intergroup thanks to the determined support of over 80 MEPs from the main political groups.
You can consult the full list of intergroups as well as their members and declarations of interest here.
On 21 January 2020 the Intergroup was constituted and the co-chairs and vice-chairs were appointed.
Cooperate with the European Commission in designing and implementing the European Action Plan for the Social Economy, foreseen for 2021.
Maintain a permanent high-level dialogue with the European Commission & Member States, including the Monitoring Committee of Luxembourg Declaration.
Promote the financing of the Social Economy through the MFF, particularly through the ESF+ and the InvestEU programme.
Promote the Social Economy’s contribution for the full integration of persons at risk of social exclusion by monitoring the European Semester and other initiatives such as the Disability Strategy post-2020.
Promote the Social Economy’s role in building a greener Europe by ensuring it plays a role in the implementation of the European Green Deal.
Promote the Social Economy in the SME and Industrial strategies.
Support the development of Social Economy legal frameworks in Member States, and EU mechanisms to allow Social Economy enterprises to operate, on equal footing with other companies, across the Single Market.
Promote the role of the Social Economy in achieving the SDGs, and support EU policies to boost Social Economy at global level, as a driver of sustainable development.
Promote the role of the Social Economy in the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Support the Social Economy’s recognition and visibility as a driver of social and technological innovation.
In December 2014, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament approved the re-establishment of the Social Economy Intergroup thanks to the determined support of 80 MEPs from 6 political groups.
Bureau of the Intergroup:
In January 2015 the board of directors of the Social Economy Intergroup was created.
With 5 Co-presidents:
• Jens Nilsson (S&D, Sweden)
• Ramón Luis Valcárcel (EPP, Spain)
• Beatriz Becerra (ALDE, Spain)
• Sven Giegold (Greens/EFA, Germany)
• Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL, France)
And two Vice-presidents :
• Sofia Ribeiro (EPP, Portugal)
• Elena Gentile (S&D, Italy)
We wish to pay tribute to our colleague Jens Nilsson (1948-2018) who coordinated and managed Intergroup activities until his sad passing. Although he is not with us anymore, his vision of a fair and inclusive Europe will last.
With Jens in our minds, we will keep working for the growth of the Social Economy as a key driver of economic and social progress in Europe.
In 2018, Marie-Christine Vergiat took over as a coordinator, Elena Gentile replaced him as S&D Co-president, and Georgi Prinski became as new Vice-president.
During the 2014-2019 mandate the Intergroup organised 15 public hearings, attended by more than 1,400 people in total, on relevant issues and policies for the social economy.
The intergroup also held 6 high level meetings with key EU leaders like Vice-president Jyrki Katanient and Commissioners Thyssen and Bienkowska; the Minister for Labour and Social Economy of Luxembourg, Nicolas Schmit, and with the special advisor of the European Commission for European Pillar of Social Rights, Allan Larsson.
In addition, the Intergroup strongly supported the adoption of the Council Conclusions on Social Economy, the actions of the European Commission for these enterprises and organisations, as well as the agendas of various governments and presidencies of the Council of the European Union to promote the social economy in Europe.
Intergroups can be formed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from any political group and any committee, with the aim of holding informal exchanges of views on particular subjects and promoting contact between MEPs and civil society. Intergroups are not Parliament bodies and therefore may not express Parliament’s opinion. There are currently 27 Intergroups, amongst which the Social Economy Intergroup.
Find out more about the activities of the Intergroup
On 7 December 2022, launch event to celebrate 1 year of Social Economy Action Plan – 10 years of SEE
On 11 October 2022, the Plenary of the European Parliament’s SEIG met in Brussels to set up a renewed agenda.
Noa Capella writes in Spanish about her short but intense experience working at SEE team.
