Social economy package

Background

The social economy is an umbrella term covering a wide range of private entities that prioritise people and social and environmental causes over profit. The nature of social economy organisations and the way the social economy is regulated vary widely across the EU Member States, but the concept typically comprises cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations (including charities), foundations and social enterprises.

Social economy entities also share principles such as reinvesting profits in activities that serve the collective interest or society, and democratic and/or participatory governance.

This opinion from the European Economic and Social Committee is in response to a European Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions. The proposal, which was first announced in December 2021, is part of the Social Economy Action Plan.

Its aim is to improve access to the labour market and social inclusion. It will do so by supporting Member States in promoting policy and regulations which are conducive to the social economy and measures that facilitate its development.

The EESC unreservedly endorses the proposal for a Recommendation and calls for it to be adopted without delay. The Committee welcomes the EU’s work to achieve a high level of convergence on the social economy framework, and feels fully involved in the process.

 

Key points

The EESC:

• recommends that the EU institutions and the Member States promote tax systems that support the social economy, simplify the administrative requirements involved and consider introducing tax measures that recognise its public interest role;
• calls for socially responsible and innovative solutions to help remove obstacles that make it difficult for social economy enterprises to participate in the public procurement market;
• invites the Commission and the Member States to make use of the expertise of national statistics offices and Eurostat to establish an authoritative and regularly updated database on the size and distribution of social economy entities.

Link to full opinion

 

Additional information

EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)

Opinion type: optional referral

Rapporteur:  Giuseppe Guerini (Civil Society Organisations - IT)

Co-rapporteur: Carole Desiano (Workers – FR)

Date of adoption by section: 03/10/2023

Result of the vote: 53 votes to 1 with 1 abstention

Date of adoption by the plenary assembly: 25/10/2023

Result of the vote: 214 votes to 2 with 3 abstentions

 

Contacts

Daniela Marangoni

Press officer

Tel.: + 32 2 546 8422 | Mob: +32 475 99 94 32

email: daniela.marangoni@eesc.europa.eu

 

Dalila Bernard

Policy officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 8438

email: Dalila.Bernard@eesc.europa.eu