• Within the Bratislava summit, to be held later this week organized by the Slovak presidency of the European Union in which the Minister Fatima Báñez involved.
• Political leaders and representatives of EU institutions, member states and entities of the social economy analyze the present and future of this business sector, the EU has 2 million companies and 14.5 million jobs.
• The president of CEPES and 'Social Economy Europe' recalls that "the Social Economy promotes sustainable economic growth, creating quality jobs, strengthening solidarity and territorial cohesion and encourages investment and innovation."
(Madrid, November 28, 2016) .- The Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES) and 'Social Economy Europe' defend, at the International Conference of Social Economy to be held in Bratislava on 30 November and 1 December that the European institutions approve a European Action Plan for Social Economy.
The 'International Conference on Social Economy' is organized by the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the aim of analyzing the contribution that the social economy has in Europe and explore ways to enhance this business sector in the EU has with 2 million companies and 14.5 million jobs, producing 8% of GDP.
In this event attended by representatives of the European institutions, governments of member states and companies and organizations representing the Social Economy, as the Minister of Employment and Social Security, Fátima Báñez, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, capacity and Labor Mobility, Marianne Thyssen; Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico; Secretary of State for Social and Solidarity Economy of France, Martine Pinville, Secretary of State of the Office of the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Tadej Slapnik; the director general of the Autonomous Work Social Economy and the Ministry of Employment CSR, Carmen Casero; or the president of CEPES and 'Social Economy Europe', Juan Antonio Pedreño, among others.
Pedreño stressed that "the participation of ministers in Bratislava Báñez is an example of the commitment of the Spanish government with the Social Economy and its development in our country and in Europe, at a particularly important moment."
At the summit on Social Economy of Bratislava aspects will be addressed to develop a European Action Plan for Social Economy in 2018 so that this business sector is considered as a strategic agent of the EU.
"One of the main objectives of the summit in Bratislava," stressed Pedreño, "it is that the European Commission commits to develop in 2018, an European Action Plan for Social Economy, as we have requested the Parliament or the Committee European economic and Social Committee (EESC), as well as national governments, European political forces and organizations representing this sector as CEPES or SEE ".
Pedreño was optimistic that the Commissioner Thyssen has recently stated that it will work together with the Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for enterprise policy, for the Commission to adopt the Plan ". For the president of CEPES and SEE "Bratislava conference marks the time to put this clear political commitment to create a European policy for the Social Economy".
text-align: justify "> Pedreño explained that" the adoption of the European Action Plan by the European Commission would be a milestone because it would actually member states of the EU to take concrete measures for the Social Economy in their national legislation. "
Pedreño stressed that the Social Economy "not only shares" marked growth targets for 2017 announced the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, but "also provides solutions to the challenges that has marked Europe as achieving a economic, social and sustainable growth; create quality jobs, reduce social inequality, strengthening solidarity and territorial cohesion and promote investment and innovation. "
Other issues discussed at the 'International Conference on Social Economy' will be the analysis of the European dimension of the social economy, its contribution as an engine of local employment development, growth and sustainability of their enterprises or collective entrepreneurship.
In addition, the various existing legal frameworks in Europe on Social Economy will be discussed. In this sense, Spain will be given as an example by being the first country to have a specific framework for Social Economy (Law 5/2011). Also, CEPES was the first entity that was created in a state as largest institution representing the Social Economy and platform for institutional dialogue with public authorities.
Pedreño noted finally that CEPES and ESS will support Spain in Bratislava chair the High Level Group of European governments in the European Union that will form during the Slovak appointment. "This presidency of Spain would be very important for the entire European social economy development because our country has generated a very positive development model of Social Economy that is a benchmark for other Member States," he added.
