• In the EU there are about 3 million Social Economy companies that produce 8% of GDP and employ 6% of the active population (more than 13.5 million jobs).
• It will consist of four main axes with the aim of providing the European Union with an ecosystem for the promotion of the Social Economy, to favor the "economic and social progress of all people living in Europe".
• The president of CEPES notes that Social Economy is a factor of competitiveness and business development, which provides technological solutions and social innovations for and by people.
• The intervention of the President of CEPES and SEE is available on the YOUTUBE channel of CEPES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iJk7AH6LL4&feature=youtu.be
Bilbao, October 3, 2018.- The president of the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES) and 'Social Economy Europe' (SEE), Juan Antonio Pedreño , announced the presentation of a proposal for a European Action Plan for the Social Economy, business model that represents in the European Union about 3 million companies , 8% of GDP and 6% of the active population .
Pedreño made the remarks during the Opening Session of the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) held in Bilbao and which brings together more than 1,700 people from 80 countries. At the inauguration ceremony he participated with the Minister of Labor, Migrations and Social Security, Magdalena Valerio ; the lehendakari of the Basque Government, Íñigo Urkullu ; the mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto ; and the president of the Basque Social Economy Network, Rosa Lavin , among others.
"The commitment of all the European Institutions and of the States with this business model is undeniable," said Pedreño. "SEE is going to present to the Social Economy Intergroup in the European Parliament and the vice-president of the European Commission a proposal for a European Action Plan for the Social Economy, which consolidates and increases the measures that currently exist and which serve to endow the EU with an ecosystem to promote the Social Economy.
This plan will consist of 20 measures and 64 consensual actions among all SEE members articulated in four main areas:
1. Recognize and incorporate the social economy as a transversal actor of the socio-economic development policies of the European Union.
2. Establish a more favorable environment for these companies and entities to contribute more effectively to the social and economic objectives of the Union.
3. Reinforce the coordinated action in favor of the sector by all the Administrations involved in the promotion of the Social Economy.
4. To help the States, regions or institutions to establish policies for their promotion and to reinforce those that are already underway, as is the case of Spain, which has a Specific Strategy for the Promotion of the Social Economy and the clear support of the Government to develop and strengthen it.
Pedreño said that the Social Economy "is an actor committed to the economic and social progress of all people living in Europe, but also throughout the world.or, because it promotes and creates quality employment, reduces inequalities, generates opportunities for all people, contributes to the energy transition and ensures the sustainable development of the territories. "
"The Social Economy is a factor of competitiveness and business development, which provides technological solutions and social innovations for and by people," added the president of CEPES and SEE.
Minister and lehendakari
The Minister of Labor, Migration and Social Security of the Government of Spain, Magdalena Valerio , said that "today's and tomorrow's companies must have the principles and values of Social Economy companies", "a powerful tool to achieve development socioeconomic status of Spain ".
Valerio also underlined that the GSEF "is an opportunity to build a different world," while asserting that "the Social Economy is an unquestionable actor in the 2030 Agenda" that "is proving to be more competitive and innovative".
On the other hand, the lehendakari of the Basque Government, Iñigo Urkullu , stressed that "the shared work is a combination of Human Development and Sustainable Growth. This is our model, deeply rooted in our society and companies. "
Urkullu stressed that "we have shared in the GSEF the Basque model of inclusive-participative enterprise, which pursues objectives such as collaboration, quality employment, fair growth, participation and sustainable development".
The mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto , stressed the importance of the GSEF for his city, in which 1,700 "leaders and experts from around the world to work and debate from the Social Economy for a more just and egalitarian society" .
The president of the Basque Social Economy Network, Rosa Lavín , stressed that the companies of this business model in that Autonomous Community represent 11,000 million euros of turnover and an innovation rate of 25%, 5 points higher than the rest of business models .
The GSEF is an international network that brings together the Administrations and local civil society stakeholders committed to supporting the development of the Social Economy. It pursues the creation of quality employment, fair growth, the progress of grassroots democracy and sustainable development. Values such as human dignity and sustainable ecology must be the underlying principles of all GSEF activity.
In addition, the GSEF aims to act as a center to share perspectives and experiences through collaboration and cross-border cooperation based on multilateral partnerships in pursuit of an inclusive, egalitarian and people-centered world.
In the following link you can see photographs of the event: https://www.cepes.es/principal/multimedia/390_foro-mundial-economia-social-gsef-2018
