• Pedro Sánchez is committed to promoting the Social Economy and establishing lines of work with CEPES and states that "it is a fundamental sector for our economy, which is a clear commitment by people against traditional mercantile companies."
• Juan Antonio Pedreño, president of CEPES, positively valued the commitment of the PSOE and its Secretary General to the strengthening of the Social Economy.
• PSOE and CEPES shared the need to develop a work agenda on the proposals of the Social Economy in matters of institutional participation, public procurement, industrial policy, pensions and Pacto de Toledo, among others.
• The Spanish Social Economy has more than 43,000 companies and represents 10% of GDP and 12.5% of employment.
(Madrid, July 19, 2016) .- The Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES) and the PSOE agreed to undertake joint lines of work with the aim of strengthening the Social Economy.
In the meeting held yesterday at the Socialist headquarters of Ferraz, the PSOE Secretary General, Pedro Sánchez , reaffirmed to the Executive Committee of CEPES the "commitment" that his party has with the Social Economy, "a fundamental sector for our economy, which Supposes a clear commitment by the people in front of the traditional mercantile companies ".
The president of CEPES, Juan Antonio Pedreño , "positively valued the meeting, as well as the commitment in favor of promoting the Social Economy, manifested by the PSOE and its general secretary, who was accompanied by his most direct economic team."
Sánchez was accompanied in the meeting with CEPES of its president, Cristina Narbona ; The Secretary of Employment and Labor Relations, Toni Ferrer ; Institutional Relations and Public Administrations, Alfonso Gómez de Celis ; Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Carlos Ruiz ; The secretary of Municipal Politics, Susana Sumelzo ; And the Social Security and Pact of Toledo, Magdalena Valerio .
In the course of the meeting, the president of CEPES "highlighted the significant progress being made in the Social Economy, especially since the signing of the Madrid Declaration, signed in May by 11 EU Governments."
Pedreño highlighted the "excellent momentum" of the Social Economy in Spain and Europe, a business model that represents 2 million businesses in Europe, 14.5 million jobs and 8% of GDP "
Likewise, the meeting between PSOE and CEPES analyzed a number of economic, legislative and social measures to boost the business model of the Social Economy, and how it contributes positively in the Spanish economic scenario.
The socialist leader took into consideration the different initiatives of the Social Economy in the matter of housing and rehabilitation, energy production and commitment to renewables. He also agreed with CEPES on the importance of Vocational Training for the future of employment in our country. Also, Sánchez emphasized the importance of cooperative teaching within education.
Sánchez expressed his "readiness to continue holding these meetings." In addition, both parties saw the need to develop a work agenda on CEPES proposals on institutional participation,General State Budgets, public procurement, industrial policy, R & D & I, implementation of ODS in the political agenda, pensions and Toledo Pact.
During the meeting, the effects of the Social Security contribution of the self-employed in cooperatives and labor societies were also addressed, and the capitalization of unemployment benefits for Social Economy projects, specifically for business transformation, was also addressed.
Pedro Sanchez stressed "the resilience of the social economy during the crisis, not only has not destroyed employment but has created it. In fact, in Spain today there are over 43,000 social economy companies, which generate more than 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs and represents 10% of GDP, "he said. He also stressed that the Spanish social economy "is a benchmark in the European and international arena."
Lastly, the secretary-general emphasized the "priority" character of this meeting, which took place in the first months of the new Socialist leadership, and announced the holding of working meetings with this sector on a regular basis, for Its relevance in the economy and employment in our country.
This is the second meeting that Sánchez has with the CEPES Board of Directors, after the one held in February 2016, when he announced that the Social Economy will become "one of the priorities" of a future socialist government.
