Social Economy Europe (SEE), together with members of the European Commission Expert Group on the Social Economy and Social Enterprises (GECES), has warned of the risk that the Social Economy Action Plan 2021–2030 may not be effectively implemented unless human resources in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) are urgently reinforced.
In a letter sent on 16 March to the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone; the Director-General for Human Resources (DG HR), Stephen Quest; and the Director-General for Budget (DG BUDG), Stéphanie Riso, the President of SEE, Juan Antonio Pedreño, along with 55 additional signatory organisations, underline that the Action Plan was conceived as a long-term strategic framework precisely due to the complexity of the changes it aims to drive. While many of the planned measures have already been formally launched, a significant number remain at intermediate stages of implementation, requiring continuous operational support, inter-service coordination, and structured dialogue with social economy stakeholders.
In this context, the signatories express concern over the decision of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) to dismantle the unit dedicated to the social economy. Although this measure is presented as an internal reorganisation, they warn that it carries significant political consequences for the ecosystem. They recall that the social economy represents a significant pillar in the EU, with more than four million enterprises and organisations and over eleven million jobs. In 2021, the sector generated close to one trillion euros in turnover. Its activity spans multiple sectors, contributing both to business competitiveness and to the Union’s social objectives.
The signatories further highlight that, despite the widespread perception that it heavily depends on public funding, data show that the social economy receives proportionally less funding than the mainstream economy. They also stress its role in European industrial autonomy, its contribution to territorial resilience, and its promotion of values such as social inclusion, collective responsibility, and long-term stability.
According to the letter, the withdrawal of DG GROW’s active involvement has created a structural imbalance in the distribution of responsibilities and resources within the Commission. They therefore consider it reasonable for the Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR) to ensure the allocation of sufficient staff to DG EMPL to guarantee the continuity of the Plan.
In addition to reinforcing staff, they call for the designation of at least one specific contact point within DG GROW to ensure systematic coordination with DG EMPL and social economy stakeholders. This measure is considered particularly relevant for sectors such as industry or construction, where structured dialogue is key to adapting policies to the specific characteristics of these organisations.
The signatories warn that the absence of such a focal point could lead to fragmentation, delays in coordination, and reduced policy coherence. In their view, effective collaboration between directorates-general is essential to maintain the momentum of the Plan and to provide stakeholders with a clear and reliable institutional interface.
For all these reasons, the signatories of this letter, led by Social Economy Europe, call for the implementation of these essential measures to safeguard the integrity of the Action Plan and to fulfil the objectives established at European level.
