The European Commission has published the mid-term review of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP), adopted in December 2021, confirming significant progress in its implementation and setting new priorities to strengthen the sector through to 2030. The review concludes that the Plan has succeeded in generating new momentum for the European social economy by providing a coherent policy framework, mobilising funding, and increasing its visibility at both national and EU levels.
As highlighted by Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Skills and Quality Jobs, the social economy in the EU currently comprises more than 4.3 million organisations, employing around 11.5 million people and playing a key role in areas such as social inclusion, affordable housing and care services.
Key achievements
Among the main achievements since 2021, the Commission notes that 21 Member States have adopted or are preparing national social economy strategies. More than €1.62 billion in EU funding has been mobilised, along with significant guarantees through InvestEU. Most of the actions set out in the original Plan have already been completed or are underway (See progress tracker).
In addition, initiatives such as the European Social Economy Gateway portal and the Council Recommendation on enabling framework conditions have helped strengthen the political recognition of the sector across Member States.
Ongoing challenges
Despite these advances, the review highlights persistent challenges, including unequal access to finance, markets and institutional support, as well as a lack of comparable statistical data across countries.
It also points to untapped potential at regional and local levels, where the social economy could play a stronger role in territorial and rural development.
Priorities for the next phase
For the 2026–2030 period, the Commission proposes to reinforce the Plan through a renewed agenda focused on three main priorities: improving regulatory and policy frameworks, including State aid rules and public procurement; boosting investment, skills and entrepreneurship by facilitating access to finance and talent development; and strengthening the visibility and understanding of the sector through better statistics and analytical tools.
These priorities are reflected in several areas of action, including strengthening multi-level governance, developing tools for local authorities, and creating a more favourable environment for social investment.
Towards a more competitive and recognised social economy
The European Commission underlines that, in a context of industrial transformation, geopolitical challenges and growing social pressures, the social economy is emerging as a driver of resilience, inclusion and competitiveness.
However, the ultimate success of the Action Plan will depend on strengthening its implementation on the ground, improving access to resources, and consolidating its integration into European policies.
With this mid-term review, the European Union takes a further step towards making the social economy a strategic pillar of its economic and social model by 2030.
