Strengthening non-profit social enterprises as an essential pillar of a socially equitable Europe (Exploratory opinion at the request of the German presidency)

The European Commission has put the social economy at the top of the agenda for 2020. The aim of the opinion is to emphasise the importance of the common good as a key European value, including in the area of economic activity, and to highlight the high level of innovation of social economy enterprises committed to the common good, with a focus on the provision of social services.

In its opinion, the EESC calls for the strengthening of and targeted support for social enterprises and other social economy organizations. It believes that a Protocol on diversity in types of enterprises should be annexed to the TFUE, including a separate definition of non-profit social enterprises. Besides, the EESC estimates that support for non-profit social economy organizations should be addressed in the Social Scoreboard linked to the European Semester.

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.