• This was made clear at the ceremony held yesterday, in which, among others, the EESC president, Luca Jahier, participated; the president of the Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz; the head of the Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship Unit of the European Commission, Ulla Engelmann; and MEPs from all the political forces of the European Parliament.
• The main Political Forces of the European Parliament showed their support for both the Plan of Action and the Electoral Proposals of the European Social Economy presented by the President of `Social Economy Europe '.
• Proposals from the European Social Economy are available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GsJNYstvBFGPNi1zz69H-livF9Abg3Er . They aim to guarantee the future welfare state and strengthen this business sector that represents 8% of the EU GDP, with 2.8 million companies and 13.6 million jobs.
Brussels, February 6, 2019. - The European Social Economy delivered in Brussels to the political formations that will participate in the European elections next May a memorandum of electoral proposals, with the aim of promoting this business model that represents 8% of the Community GDP and has 2.8 million companies and 13.6 million jobs .
In the Conference 'Social Economy for the future of the European Union', senior representatives of European institutions, MEPs from all political forces and spokespersons for this business model unanimously showed the need to bet on this business model as a tool for economic progress and Social.
The president of 'Social Economy Europe' (SEE) and CEPES, Juan Antonio Pedreño , presented in this event to the EU institutions and the political forces of the European Parliament "a consensus memorandum to promote the development of the social economy in Europe and free all its potential as a vector of economic and social progress ".
In it, SEE proposes ten proposals to the European Institutions:
• Establish a European Action Plan for the Social Economy.
• Reconstitute the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament.
• Consolidate a structured dialogue on the social economy with the European Institutions.
• Move towards a European legal framework for companies and entities of the social economy.
• Improve the access of the social economy to financing and European funds.
• Position the social economy at the center of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European semester, the cohesion policy, the Sustainable Development Goals and the debate on the future of work.
• Stimulate social and technological innovation and inter-cooperation between companies and entities of the social economy.
• Improve the visibility of the social economy.
• Foster the role of the social economy in the external action of the European Union.
• Promote socially responsible public procurement.
The president of SEE and CEPES highlighted the "great acceptance and interest that the memorandum has had bothn the political representatives as well as those responsible for the European institutions ". He also indicated that "the values of the Social Economy are fundamental to reflect on the society of the future and on what society we want to build, in addition to responding to the challenges set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Pillar of Social Rights, the future of work or digitalization ".
In addition, Pedreño revealed that "from SEE we have presented to the Vice President of the European Commission, Jyrki Katainen , an Action Plan that has three objectives: to recognize the Social Economy as a transversal actor of the main development policies of the EU, to promote the convergence and coordinated actions of the different administrations and institutions, and generate an ecosystem promotion and development of the Social Economy. This plan has 7 pillars, 20 measures and 64 actions ".
He also stressed that "we will need the support of all, institutions, countries and organizations. It is time to raise the voice of the Social Economy in Brussels and in each of the 27 countries, to show that the future we want can not be built without the participation of the Social Economy ".
Pedreño made the remarks at the round table 'An evaluation of the EU mandate 2014-2019 and proposals for the future: the social economy advances in Europe', moderated by the vice-president of the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament (SEIG, by its acronyms in English), Georgi Pirinski . It was also attended by the head of the Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship Unit of the European Commission, Ulla Engelmann ; the co-chair of the SEIG, Marie-Christine Vergiat, and the president of the section of the Single Market, Production and Consumption of the EESC, Ariane Rodert .
EURODIPUTED SUPPORT
In the round table 'The future of Europe: the role of the social economy', participated, among others, Spanish MEPs Ramón Luis Valcárcel (Popular Group and vice-president of the European Parliament), Iratxe García (first vice-president of the Party of European Socialists / PSOE) and Ernest Urtasun (The Plural Left / ICV-EUiA). Also participating was Gabi "Zimmer (Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left).
Valcárcel defended the need for the European institutions to approve the Action Plan presented by SEE. He also stressed that "the social economy strengthens social cohesion and gives opportunities to those who may not have them, but who have them thanks to this business model that is a great catalyst for smart, sustainable, inclusive growth and also promotes employment quality".
"The Social Economy can be that mechanism of protection demanded by Europeans, that catalyst of opportunities for all. That is why I am calling on the European Commission to adopt a European Action Plan to promote it; if necessary, with a communication, "added the Vice President of the European Parliament. It ended with a firm commitment to the electoral proposals of SEE.
On the other hand, the socialist deputy Iratxe García pointed out that "to defend the European welfare model, the Social Economy plays a fundamental role". He also expressed his support for SEE's proposals for the elections "to strengthen this socially responsible business model."
The president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Luca Jahier , stressed that "we need to achieve the rebirth of the EU, and the Social Economy can contribute to this by reaching and associating European citizens and implementing innovative solutions".
In a similar way the preMember of the Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz , who stated that the Social Economy plays an important role in the territories and called for an appropriate framework to enhance it.
Finally, the president of the Social Economy Category of the European Economic and Social Committee and vice-president of SEE, Alain Coheur , pointed out that "nobody doubts the strength of the Social Economy companies in Europe", so he asks that the proposals presented to the political formations and community institutions materialize.
The 'Social Economy for the future of the European Union' Conference was held at the EESC headquarters, co-organized by this institution together with SEE, the Committee of the Regions and the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament.
The memorandum presented reflects that the European elections of May 2019 constitute a historic opportunity for citizens to be actively involved in building the future of the European Union. In this context, Social Economy Europe wants to record its determination to build a future of sustainable development and economic and social progress , through an EU based on cooperation, democracy, solidarity, respect for diversity, innovation and the active participation of citizens.
Europe needs the social economy to connect with its citizens, detect their real needs and involve them in the creation of innovative solutions to diverse challenges such as unemployment or precarious work, social exclusion, discrimination and racism, climate change or lack of social and territorial cohesion. In the same way, the social economy needs the European Union to improve its visibility and support its recognition and growth, in equivalent conditions with other forms of business, in the European single market.
The European Social Economy forms companies and entities of all sizes -from SMEs to large companies and leading European corporations- that operate in all sectors of activity (industry, agrifood, education, health and other social services of general interest, ethical banking and cooperative, insurance, renewable energy, reuse and recycling, distribution and consumption, housing, tourism, culture and leisure, construction, professional services, digital economy, etc.).
Because of its close connection with civil society and its commitment to society, the social economy offers innovative solutions to the main economic, social and environmental challenges of our time and contributes to the achievement of key objectives of the European Union.
