Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Employment and Preparedness at the European Commission, has announced new initiatives to support cooperatives and the social economy in the European Union. She made this announcement on 19 November during her participation in the dialogue “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” organized by the news agency Servimedia (Grupo Social ONCE, Spain) at the headquarters of Euractiv, together with representatives from Social Economy Europe and the European Parliament.
The meeting reaffirmed the strategic role of the cooperative model as a core component of the business fabric of the Social Economy, especially within the framework of the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting its ability to generate stable employment, redistribute wealth, reduce inequalities and strengthen Europe’s entrepreneurial and economic competitiveness.
Commissioner Mînzatu specified that the new measures will arise from the revision of the Public Procurement Directives and the State Aid Framework. She also referred to the European Social Fund Plus and InvestEU, noting the positive and essential impact these instruments have on the growth of the Social Economy. “We are now taking stock of the achievements made and looking at how we can do even more to support the Social Economy in Europe,” she stated.
She also stressed that in Europe, “we are proud of our Social Economy. I cannot think of many other actors that capture its essence as well as cooperatives do. Companies that prioritise people over profits. Companies rooted in their communities.”
For his part, Juan Antonio Pedreño, president of the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES) and of Social Economy Europe (SEE), highlighted the economic and social relevance of cooperatives and argued that the social economy should have a stronger presence in the political agenda, especially in view of the new budgetary framework.
In this regard, he called for policies such as the CAP and programmes such as the European Social Fund, the ERDF or the financial instrument INVESTEU to remain essential for sustaining employment and ensuring that the Social Economy continues to structure competitiveness and growth across all European territories.
Also participating in the event were MEPs Dolors Montserrat, spokesperson for the European People’s Party Group; Leire Pajín, MEP and secretary-general of the PSOE in the European Parliament; Carlos Zarco, president of the International Organisation of Health Cooperatives; Antonio Mingorance, president of the cooperative Bidafarma; and Giuseppe Guerini, president of Cooperatives Europe and vice-president of Social Economy Europe.
Business Experience in the Social Economy
The perspective of the cooperative Bidafarma was used as an example of entrepreneurial success in the Social Economy. Antonio Mingorance stated: “Pharmaceutical cooperatives demonstrate that it is possible to guarantee universal and equitable access to medicines through a supportive and efficient business model.”
Similarly, Carlos Zarco recalled that 100 million families worldwide have access to healthcare thanks to health cooperatives, and stressed that universities need to discuss this business model more often, as a way to meet people’s diverse needs.
