socialeconomy intheEuropeanUnion

Europe has a rich history of social economy entities. From mutual societies to cooperatives, from foundations to social enterprises, this alternative economic paradigm has found a fertile ground in Europe. Today, it represents a significant part of the European economy, contributing to job creation, social cohesion, regional development, environmental responsibility, and innovation.

The European Union has recognized the social economy's value and its role in achieving key EU objectives, including job creation, social cohesion, and sustainable growth. Here's how the EU is stepping up to support the social economy:

Legislative Support: The EU works to provide a favorable legal and fiscal framework for social economy entities, enabling them to thrive. This includes efforts to create a European Statute for mutual societies and cooperatives, which could help such organizations operate cross-border.

Financial Support: The EU offers financial support to social economy entities through various programs and funds. For instance, the European Social Fund (ESF), Europe's main instrument for supporting jobs, is often used to finance social economy projects. The EU also has the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), which provides financial support to micro-credit providers and social enterprises.

Promoting Social Innovation: The EU places a strong emphasis on social innovation as a way to address societal challenges. It encourages and supports social enterprises and projects that offer innovative solutions to social problems, through programs like Horizon Europe

Network Building: The EU fosters exchange and collaboration between social economy entities across member states. One such initiative is the Social Economy Europe, an EU-level representative institution for the social economy.

Research and Data Collection: The EU promotes research into the social economy to help improve understanding and visibility of the sector. This data helps shape policies and practices that further support the growth and impact of the social economy.

Education and Training: The EU supports the integration of social economy in education and training programs, helping to raise awareness and build capacities in this field.