The social economy can be the economic model to address the twin challenge of climate emergency and social crisis

Such is the message to the European institutions from the social economy actors meeting in Strasbourg – European capital of the social economy 2019, for the 4th European Day of Social Economy Enterprises, just as the European Parliament gives the green light to Ursula von der Leyen’s new team.

The European Economic and Social Committee, in cooperation with the French Ministry for Ecological and Inclusive Transition and the city and Eurometropole area of Strasbourg, held the 4th European Day of Social Economy Enterprises on the theme of The Social Economy: mobilising cities, regions and civil society. Pact for Impact for the European Union.

All speakers emphasised that the social economy may be the only viable alternative to a model of production and consumption that threatens the survival of the planet and exacerbates social inequalities, by putting the values of equality, social justice and sustainable development at the core of the economic model. Faced with globalisation and relocation, it offers a model deeply rooted in our cities and regions.

A joint declaration was adopted, setting out the measures that the stakeholders wanted the European Union to adopt in order to take the social economy to a higher level in Europe. In particular, the declaration called for a comprehensive, coherent policy initiative, including specific and practical measures, such as:

• Mainstreaming the social economy into all single market policies and policies for SMEs and entrepreneurship;
• Building a suitable financial ecosystem, promoting strategic investment in innovative and sustainable social economy projects throughout their life cycles, and prioritising the social economy in EU financing programmes;
• Making sure that social economy enterprises can take full advantage of the digital transition;
• Raising the profile and boosting recognition of the social economy across Europe;
• Helping the public authorities in their work to bring social entrepreneurship into all levels of education;
• Fully harnessing the potential of social innovation by fostering cross-sector and multi-disciplinary partnerships;
• Ensuring that all public institutions at local, regional national and European level implement socially and ecologically responsible public procurement award procedures.

More information

Press Release

Full text of the declaration