Social Economy Europe (SEE), the representative organisation for the Social Economy in Europe, held its 2025 General Assembly on 17 June in Padua, Italy. Hosted and organised by Banca Etica, the event brought together representatives of cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises from across Europe, reaffirming their commitment to the Social Economy—a people-centred, sustainable, democratic, and inclusive economic model.
The Assembly was chaired by SEE President Juan Antonio Pedreño, supported by Director Sarah de Heusch. It was followed by a conference organised by Banca Etica, FEBEA and Social Economy Europe titled “Investing in the Future of the Social Economy.”
The meeting served to discuss proposals to strengthen the role of the Social Economy in the EU political agenda, especially following the closure of the Social Economy Unit within the European Commission’s DG GROW, which has raised concerns within the sector. In response, SEE launched a manifesto signed by more than 500 social economy leaders, academics and stakeholders, calling for the retention of a Social Economy team in DG GROW with an adequate budget.
Key achievements reached in 2024 include the renewal of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup (Social Economy and Services of General Interest Intergroup), the appointment of a commissioner responsible for Social Economy matters (Roxana Mînzatu, DG EMPL), and the further development of the European Action Plan for the Social Economy.
“With the support of our members, the General Assembly unanimously approved the organisation’s action plan to achieve financial stability and increase the visibility of the Social Economy across Europe,” announced Juan Antonio Pedreño, president of SEE and CEPES, the Spanish Social Economy employers’ organisation.
The 2025 work plan focuses on the three priority areas of SEE’s 2023–2026 strategic plan: sustainable growth, internal cohesion, and support for the development and recognition of the social economy.
SEE’s increased financial resources and the continued growth of its team were welcomed, and a plan was outlined to boost visibility of the social economy through a series of events taking place between September and December. The first major event will be an international gathering in Murcia (Spain) during the European Social Economy Week, which will include a conference on the implementation of the European Social Economy Action Plan and the SEE Awards Ceremony.
SEE Activity report: https://www.socialeconomy.eu.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5.SEE-Activity-Report-2024.pdf
More information on the SEE Assembly
