News of the European Social Economy
SEN#40May 2025
More Social Economy to Promote European Culture
By Maravillas Rojo, President of Abacus, former Secretary General for Employment of the Spanish Government, and Deputy Mayor and City Councillor of Barcelona for over 10 years (1995-2007)
The European project, and democratic projects in general, are going through a complex time. The rise of authoritarianism thrives on polarization in all societies. Today, while some impose the barbarity of a world without rules, where people and their rights matter little, we, from the social economy and cooperativism, firmly uphold the defense of democracy, culture, diversity, and even in these harsh times, the duty to defend joy, without which hope cannot exist.
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First Meeting of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest
On May 13, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted the first meeting of the Intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest, established after the recent European elections. The meeting, dedicated to the upcoming revision of the Public Procurement Directive, allowed participants to debate the importance of an economy working for the collective interest. The event was organized by Social Economy Europe (SEE) and SGI Europe with the European Parliament, and featured the participation of the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Skills, Education, Quality Employment, and Social Rights, Roxana Minzatu, alongside senior government officials and MEPs of the Intergroup.
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Social Economy Europe promotes a manifesto to ensure Social Economy remains present within DG GROW of the European Commission
Social Economy Europe (SEE) has submitted a manifesto to the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission, protesting the closure of its Social Economy Unit. The manifesto, made public on April 30 under the title “The implications of DG GROW abandoning the Social Economy at a critical moment”, was signed by 236 individuals from the social economy sector, various European and national institutions and public administrations, as well as renowned academics and experts.
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The European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES) calls for action to intensify commitment and work for social cohesion, social economy and democracy
The European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES) held an event on 14 May, hosted by the city of Strasbourg, with the participation of representatives of REVES member cities and regions, other cities and regions that share the values of the social economy, and representatives of European social economy actors. In it, and through a call to action, a collection of signatures has been promoted for the European institutions, governments and local and regional administrations to intensify their commitment and work for social cohesion, social economy and democracy.
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San Sebastián to host the first ASETT Forum, the Vanguard Hub for Social Economy, on May 29-30
The Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium in Donostia-San Sebastián will host the First International Forum of the Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank (ASETT), the Vanguard Hub for Social Economy. The event will take place on May 29 and 30, organized by the Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES) with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy. This inaugural ASETT Forum will give voice to successful experiences and promote Social Economy as an advanced, innovative, and inclusive sector.
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Last days to submit nominations for the third edition of the European Social Economy Awards
Nominations for the third edition of the European Social Economy Awards, organised by Social Economy Europe, can be submitted until 16 June in five categories (Training and Education; Quality Action Plans; Housing; Clean Energy; and Innovation in Work Integration Enterprises). The award ceremony of the 3rd Social Economy Awards will take place on 16 September in Murcia (Spain), in the framework of the EU Social Economy Week.
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ILO launches two Technical Working Groups to strengthen statistics on cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched two new Technical Working Groups (TWGs) dedicated to statistics: the COPAC Working Group on Measuring the Economic Contribution of Cooperatives (TWG MECC) and the UNTFSSE Working Group on Social and Solidarity Economy Statistics (TWG SSES). These groups are tasked with refining and advancing cooperative statistics, as well as establishing methodological foundations for statistics on the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
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CoopsDay 2025 will highlight the role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive and sustainable solutions for a better world
The 2025 theme is especially relevant in light of today’s challenges: diplomatic and climate crises, persistent inequality, and social protection systems under threat. In this context, cooperatives act as key players by offering innovative, people-centered solutions.
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Call for EU Pharmaceutical Reform to Prioritise Access to Affordable Medicines
As European Union governments continue critical negotiations on the revision of the EU Pharmaceutical Package, the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), and the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) are urging Member States to ensure that access to affordable, safe, and effective medicines remains at the heart of the reform.
Read moreSocial Economy Schedule
The Cooperative Model in the Era of Sustainable Reporting – Values That Build a Better World - May 28, 2025, Kraków
Organised by CECOP together with its Polish members, the National Auditing Union of Worker Cooperatives and the National Auditing Union of Social Cooperatives, this event will delve into the evolving role of cooperatives in advancing sustainable practices and their measurement, especially in the context of increasing sustainability reporting standards, covering the environmental, social and governance domains.
+infoPhilea Forum 2025 - Lisbon, Portugal on 2-5 June
The Philea Forum 2025 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal on 2-5 June, exploring “Power and Equality: A Balancing Act”, hosted by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. It will address critical issues, exploring the intersection of inequalities, power imbalances and structures which are sustaining them (including within philanthropy) and the ways in which we can help create the more equitable and just society we want and need.
+info2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress - Barcelona, 29-30 September 2025
CIRIEC-Spain calls for papers for its 2nd Legal Congress. After the great success of the first edition, held in June 2023 in Cordoba, the 2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress will take place at the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) on 29-30 September 2025, under the theme “Legal challenges of the social economy: sustainability and efficiency”.
+info10th International CIRIEC Research Conference on Social Economy - Bordeaux, October 2025 - Registration is now open
The Conference is an international meeting place for senior and early stage researchers interested in the whole range of social economy components (cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations) to exchange ideas and work. It will take place a few days before the Global Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy (GSEF 2025). Early bird until June, 30. Preferential rates will be available for those participating in the two congresses, CIRIEC and GSEF.
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