Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 9 December 2021, setting out an action plan aimed at support the European Union's (EU) social economy.

Further information:

The social economy encompasses a range of entities with different business and organisational models. They operate in a large variety of economic sectors. In the context of this action plan and related EU initiatives, the social economy covers entities sharing the following main common principles and features: the primacy of people as well as social and/or environmental purpose over profit, the reinvestment of most of the profits and surpluses to carry out activities in the collective or general interest and democratic and/or participatory governance.

This Action Plan seeks to enhance social innovation, support the development of the social economy and boost its social and economic transformative power. It proposes a series of actions for the period 2021-2030. It builds on the results of the Social Business Initiative (SBI) and the Start-up and Scale-up Initiative. Despite the progress made under the previous initiatives, needs persist in several areas. Improving the right framework conditions for the social economy across the EU, including improved visibility and recognition and access to finance and markets are key aspects of the Action Plan.

The Communication was adopted by the European Commission on 9 December 2021. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a Resolution relating to this Action Plan on 6 July 2022.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Commentary and Analysis

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC): Press Release, 10/12/2021: Social Economy Action Plan modest but useful https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/social-economy-action-plan-modest-useful

European Public Service Union (EPSU), 13/12/2021: EC Social Economy Action Plan – what’s in it for social care services? https://www.epsu.org/article/ec-social-economy-action-plan-what-s-it-social-care-services

Interreg Europe: News, 14/12/2021: The Social Economy Action Plan has been published! https://www.interregeurope.eu/policy-learning-platform/news/the-social-economy-action-plan-has-been-published

Social Economy Europe: News, 16/12/2021: The Social Economy Action Plan is out: a new chapter begins https://www.socialeconomy.eu.org/2021/12/16/the-social-economy-action-plan-is-out-a-new-chapter-begins/

Euclid Network: News, 16/12/2021: EN first response to the Social Economy Action Plan https://euclidnetwork.eu/2021/12/en-first-response-to-the-social-economy-action-plan/

Caritas Europe: Policy Paper, 11/02/2022: Analysis of the Social Economy Action Plan https://www.caritas.eu/the-european-action-plan-on-social-economy/

---

News

EurActiv: Special Reports, May 2022: Financing the social economy https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/special_report/financing-the-social-economy/

---

Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)373: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:373:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Resolution on the EU Action plan for the social economy (2021/2179(INI)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2021/2179(INI)

European Commission: DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion: Social Economy Action Plan https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1537&langId=en

European Commission: Press Release, 09/12/2021: Commission presents Action Plan to boost the social economy and create jobs https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_6568

European Commission: Questions and answers: the Social Economy Action Plan (9 December 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_6566

International Labour Organisation (ILO): Topics, 31/03/2022: EU action plan on social economy is launched with references to the work of the ILO and the UNTFSSE https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/cooperatives/sse/WCMS_840976/lang--en/index.htm

---