The Madrid Summit, in which 11 European governments approved the 'Madrid Declaration', has vindicated the need for Europe and its states to develop a European action plan to boost the Social Economy.
More than 400 representatives from all European Institutions (Parliament, Commission and European Economic and Social Committee), representatives of 16 member states, more than 200 representatives of Social Economy of 18 countries and the Spanish Public Administrations (at state, regional and local level).
All participants ratified the need for the European Commission's initiative to implement an ambitious policy for the Social Economy. The 'Declaration of Madrid' calls for a road map to strengthen the Social Economy, considered a strategic sector to ensure social and economic cohesion, companies committed to people and their territory and generating stable and quality employment.
CEPES and Social Economy Europe President Juan Antonio Pedreño called for "the time to take a solid step forward in favor of the Social Economy, because we firmly believe that it is a key business actor for a more prosperous, just and sustainable".
Finally, the president of CEPES and SEE affirmed the commitment of the sector to "help build the future of Europe from our business model".
European Representation
The Commissioners for Employment, Social Affairs and Mobility of Workers, Marianne Thyssen ; And the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elzbieta Bienkowska ; Showed their support to the Social Economy through video communications. Both exposed the need to bet on the values that this contributes, especially in terms of entrepreneurship, generation of stable and quality employment, and social, territorial and economic cohesion.
In addition, the Summit also had two round tables. In the first, moderated by the Secretary of State for Employment of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security, Juan Palo Riesgo , addressed the role of the Social Economy in the EU Member States.
Sweden's Minister of Public Administration, Alrdalan Shekarabi , stressed at this round table the "importance" of what is now approved in the 'Madrid Declaration' for all Europeans, as it entails creating opportunities and opportunities ", especially for the Future and for young people.
For his part, the Portuguese Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, José Antonio Vieira da Silva ; Stressed that work in the Social Economy "is not only a job that does not disappear, but also does not relocate and is also a qualified job." Also speaking were the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security Luxembourg, Nicolas Schmit ; The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Italy, Luigi Bobba ; And the Secretary of State of the Office of the Prime MinisterOf Slovenia, Tadej Slapnik .
The second round table, moderated by SEE Vice-President Emmanuel Verny , addressed the Social Economy in the European Institutions, and was attended by Georges Dassis , President of the European Economic and Social Committee ; The Vice-President and the European Parliament, Ramón Luis Valcárcel ; The co-chair of the European Parliament's Social Economy Intergroup, Jens Nilsson ; The head of Unit and Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship of the DG for the Single Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission , Ulla Engelmann ; And the Head of Unit and Social Economy of DG Employment of the European Commission , Ann Branch .
Spanish representation
The closing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Employment and Social Security of the Government of Spain, Fatima Báñez ; The Minister of Economy, Employment and Finance, Engracia Hidalgo ; The mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena ; And the president of CEPES and SEE, Manuela Carmena .
Hidalgo and Carmena agreed on the importance of the Summit being held in Madrid and that the name and image of the city be translated throughout Europe and in favor of the Social Economy. The heads of both institutions showed their support for this economic sector, and explained the initiatives that both the Community and the City Council are doing to boost the Social Economy.
"We are convinced that we have to take advantage of this moment in which we have a favorable context for the development of the social economy and share with society the need to promote a sustainable and inclusive economy," added Hidalgo.
The Minister recalled that "Spain was the first country to approve, unanimously of all political forces the adoption of a Law of Social Economy," as well as the need to "make Europe a pole of attraction and development" of this business sector .
Manuela Carmena pointed out that Madrid was "in all likelihood, the place where the first Social Economy entity was constituted, in reference to the construction in 1876 of the Constructora Benefica, a company created under the auspices of the Count of Toreno and Concepción Arenal.
The mayor emphasized that the Social Economy is formed by "companies that allow society to improve", as well as "effort and solidarity are emblematic values to know where to consolidate" this business sector.
