• During 2017, he held various activities to commemorate its twenty - fifth anniversary, through a broad agenda of institutional events.
• Since its inception in 1992, CEPES has become the highest representative body of the Social Economy in Spain.
(Madrid, 31 March 2017) .- The Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES) held during the year 2017 its 25th anniversary as a Spanish employer in this business sector, which has more than 43,000 companies representing 10% of GDP and 12.5% of employment.
To celebrate this anniversary, CEPES will organize various performances throughout the year, among which include a broad agenda of events and institutional events.
"The 25th Anniversary of CEPES is an excellent opportunity to visualize the achieved successes and strengths of the Social Economy occasion , " said the president of CEPES, Juan Antonio Pedreño. "To speak today of Social Economy in Spain is talking about competitive, sustainable and committed to employment where the person premium over capital companies," he stressed.
In the coming months, CEPES will announce the milestones that have marked its history and that, ultimately, are a reflection of how the Social Economy has been evolving and adapting to the changes experienced by the Spanish and European society.
"Looking back, has been 25 years in which the Social Economy has acquired an important weight at the macroeconomic level, and from CEPES we look forward to build a new economic model in which prime the general interest and collective good as advocated Social Economy, "said Pedreño.
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
CEPES has done extensive international activity during these 25 years. Actively participates to EU institutions in order to highlight and strengthen the social economy as a necessary tool "to build Europe" by creating employment, social enterprises responsible, financially and with their territory. Social Economy in Europe has 2 million businesses and 14.5 million jobs, producing 8% of EU GDP.
In addition, Spain has been the first member of the European Union adopted a Law on Social Economy and CEPES is since 2016 the first state organization chaired SOCIAL ECONOMY EUROPE, the European Organization for Social Economy State.
Pedreño stressed that the work demisting in recent years has meant, "unanimity among the European institutions to consider the Social Economy has not only been a pillar that has cemented European integration, but that is also considered a central instrument in policies to build a more prosperous and united Europe. "
In addition, CEPES promoted and currently leads the Euro - Mediterranean Network of Social Economy (Red ESMED), which works with the aim of boosting the more than 900,000 companies, 8 million jobs and 100 million people associated in the 9 Mediterranean countries which are part of this organization.
CEPES has also contributed 25 years to more than 43,000 companies in the Social Economy to bet strongly for development cooperation. The Spanish Social Economy represented by CEPES has handled more than 47.8 million euros in funding for cooperation in 43 countryis.
SPAIN, PIONEERS IN LAWMAKING
In Spain CEPES, as patron of the Social Economy has worked and collaborated actively with government, political forces and other social partners to develop policies and actions to build jobs and generate economic and social wealth during its 25 years of existence .
In this sense, CEPES urged that Spain will be equipped with a specific legislative framework on Social Economy (Law 5/2011 of Social Economy), which marked a turning point for the recognition, visibility and development of the sector both in Spain and in the European Union.
This Act defines the social economy as a set of economic and business activities in the private sector carry out those entities that, in accordance with the following principles, pursue the general economic or social interest. Which also it provides business formulas and modalities that today are part of the social economy: cooperatives, labor societies, mutual societies, insertion companies, special employment centers, fishermen and associations in the disability sector.
"25 years after the formation of CEPES, the social economy is a reality that acts in all sectors, with companies of all sizes and brands in markets, while generating stable and quality employment, since 80% of the contracts are indefinite and 47% are under 40 years, "said Pedreño.
In addition, CEPES became 2016 Intermediate Body of the Operational Program of Social Inclusion and Social Economy of the European Social Fund 2014-2020 the first operational program of its kind that takes place in an EU country. Since then, CEPES has published three calls endowed with 11.8 million euros in aid ESF.
"After serving 25 years and look to the future," added Pedreño, "the Social Economy must occupy a structural place in economic policies, in order to continue to grow, create jobs and committed companies, and demonstrate that it is possible to combine economic profitability and social ".
