• The Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions approves the report previously approved by the Spanish ESC.
• The report is an unprecedented step forward in favor of the recognition of this business network, which has been firmly established in the North and South of the Mediterranean.
• The Social Economy has more than 3.1 million companies and entities in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• The report is available at the following link: https://www.cepes.es/documentacion/414
Turin (Italy), December 19, 2018.- The Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions approved in Turin the 'Euromed Report on Social Economy and Entrepreneurship in the Euro-Mediterranean Region', with the aim of boosting entrepreneurship and development of this business model as a way to achieve social and sustainable economic development.
This document, previously approved by the Spanish ESC, includes a series of conclusions that will be transferred to the European Commission and international organizations specializing in the development of the Mediterranean.
Among the conclusions of the Report, the Social Economy is highlighted as a key actor in responding to the shared socio-economic challenges between the north and south of the Mediterranean, by promoting economic growth, sustainable local development and quality employment.
It also highlights the role of the Social Economy as a way for groups such as young people and people with disabilities to access employment, and emphasizes the empowerment of women thanks to the Social Economy.
Another important aspect of the 'Euromed Report on Social Economy and Entrepreneurship in the Euro-Mediterranean Region' is that states, European institutions, social agents and socio-economic actors are called upon to promote entrepreneurship through the Social Economy.
The Turin meeting was attended by representatives of the European institutions, representative entities of the Social Economy, as well as 25 countries (Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Jordan, Bulgaria, Mauritania, Italy, Spain, Montenegro, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Albania, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Romania, Egypt, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Turkey, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco).
The president of CEPES and of the ESMED NETWORK has indicated that "it is the first time that consultative institutions of the governments of the north and south of the Mediterranean, as is the case of the ESCs together with the European Economic and Social Committee, elaborate a` leaf of joint route with measures and priorities for the development of the social economy ".
In addition Pedreño believes that "the report is an unprecedented advance in favor of the recognition of this business fabric strongly implanted in the North and South of the Mediterranean. It arises from the agreement between social agents and socio-economic actors to promote the social economy in an area where the social economy provides its greatest added value: entrepreneurship ".
Companies and employment
In the European Union there are 2.8 million entities and Social Economy companies of all sizes (which produce 8% of the EU GDP), which employ 13.6 million people.
In addition, in the southern Mediterranean countries it is estimated that there are 300,000 companies that generate 1.5 million jobs, according to the report.
; "> About Cepes
The Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES) is the highest representative institution of the Social Economy in Spain, constituting itself as a platform for institutional dialogue with public authorities. Its 27 partners represent the interests of more than 43,300 companies, representing 12.5% of employment and with a turnover of around 10% of GDP. Its partners, with more than 200 regional structures, are national or regional organizations and business groups, representing the interests of Cooperatives, Labor Societies, Mutualities, Insertion Companies, Special Employment Centers, Associations of the disability sector and Fishermen's Associations .
About the Esmed Network
ESMED is the representative network of the social economy of the Mediterranean. Its members are the main organizations of the social economy of Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey.
Through the associative fabric of its members, the ESMED Network defends the interests and is the voice of the more 900,000 companies and entities that exist in these 9 countries, which employ more than 8 million people and associate more than 100,000 million of people.
