European Economic and Social Committee
Period 2015-2020
During the years 2015-20, the the Social Economy Category has striven to promote and defend the interests of the social economy to the widest possible audience. It has sought to gain recognition for the substantial contribution of the sector to Europe’s socio-economic development and to the success of the European integration process.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has been actively involved in the European social enterprise and social economy agenda for more than 10 years and supports social enterprise growth and development as a key element of the European social model.
Since the end of last decade, several institutions of the European Union have called for public policies to boost the social economy at the European, national and regional levels. In this context and also in the context of the last crisis, a new generation of public policies for the social economy have emerged during this decade. The present study outlines a diversified selection of successful practices in public policies regarding the Social Economy across different European countries.
Since the end of last decade, several institutions of the European Union have called for public policies to boost the social economy at the European, national and regional levels. In this context and also in the context of the last crisis, a new generation of public policies for the social economy have emerged during this decade.
The present research outlines a diversified selection of successful practices in public policies regarding the Social Economy across different European countries.
The general objective of the Report is to study the recent evolution of the social economy in the European Union. It focuses on three areas: firstly, the social economy and the emergent concepts/movements related to it, secondly, the public policies adopted in both the EU and the member states in recent years to enhance the social economy sector and thirdly, measuring the weight of the social economy in each EU member country.
The general objective of the Report is to study the recent evolution of the social economy in the European Union. It focuses on three areas: firstly, the social economy and the emergent concepts/movements related to it, secondly, the public policies adopted in both the EU and the member states in recent years to enhance the social economy sector and thirdly, measuring the weight of the social economy in each EU member country.
The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT) is responsible for drafting the EESC’s opinions on matters relating to the smooth operation and completion of the single market: industrial policy, intellectual property, financial services, small and medium sized enterprises, the social economy, the professions, consumer protection, research and innovation, company law, tourism, etc.
