News of the European Social Economy
SEN#43September 2025
Placing the growth of the social economy on the European Union's strategic agenda
By Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of CEPES and Social Economy Europe
"2025 is a year of uncertainty, and the social economy is and must be considered a stable and strong economic compass for the EU. In Europe, there are at least 4.3 million social economy entities and enterprises, employing more than 12 million people. This sector is larger than the automotive industry and operates in all sectors of activity, some in strategic areas such as agri-food, housing, energy, the circular economy and social innovation. We do not want to take a step backwards because of changes in EU priorities. However, in 2025 we run the risk of taking that step backwards. This decision cannot be allowed to happen."
Read moreHighlights
European Social Economy calls for a new and determined EU push for the sector, as a means to achieve the European Union’s strategic autonomy
Murcia (Spain) hosted, from September 15 to 19, the European Social Economy Week, an event whose central act was the European Social Economy Summit, held on the 17th with the presence of government representatives from 27 countries; members of the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee, as well as senior representatives of the European Commission, led by Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Social Rights, Skills and Quality Jobs, Roxana Mînzatu.
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Europe celebrates social innovation and inclusion at the 3rd Social Economy Awards Gala
Through these awards, the European social economy reaffirms its role as a driver of change, capable of offering innovative and sustainable solutions to challenges. The awards were distributed in five categories: training, local governments, housing, clean energy, and social innovation in work integration social enterprises (WISEs), all linked to strategic priorities of the European Union.
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The Social Economy and Cooperatives featured in the Political Declaration of the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha
The Political Declaration of the Member States for the Second World Summit on Social Development, convened by the United Nations General Assembly and to be held in Doha (Qatar) from 4 to 6 November, makes explicit reference to cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy (SSE) on several occasions. The text was approved following an intergovernmental negotiation process held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 9 September.
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Reactions of European cooperatives, mutuals, and foundations to Von der Leyen’s State of the Union address
The State of the Union speech delivered on 10 September by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, generated explicit reactions from organisations in the social economy and the third sector. CECOP (Confederation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives), Philea (the European philanthropy association) and AIM (International Association of Mutuality) welcomed with interest several announcements concerning quality employment, affordable housing, innovation financing and public health.
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Bordeaux to become the World Capital of Social Economy in October, with the 10th CIRIEC International Research Conference on Social Economy and the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)
Both the CIRIEC Scientific Conference and the GSEF Forum are part of a dense and decisive global agenda, just a few days before the Second World Summit on Social Development (Doha, 4–6 November 2025), which will bring together Heads of State and Government to accelerate the implementation of a new global social contract.
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The French Court of Auditors warns of insufficient state support for the Social and Solidarity Economy in France
The French Court of Auditors has published, for the first time, a report entirely devoted to the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), in response to a citizen request. The document marks a milestone for the sector and confirms both its weight in the French economy and the inadequacy of the public support it receives. It highlights the insufficiency of state support, which it considers lower than that granted to the conventional economy.
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Ibero-American Meeting on Social and Solidarity Economy held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia)
The Working Group on Statistics and Measurements on Social and Solidarity Economy adopted an important agreement on statistics, promoted by CIRIEC: “To request that the United Nations and its Statistics Division include a specific chapter on social and solidarity economy in the next revision of the SNA-2008, establishing the framework criteria for defining the scope of the social and solidarity economy and preparing a Satellite Accounts Manual on Social and Solidarity Economy.
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ENSIE creates two comparative tables to understand national approaches to support mechanisms for Social Integration Enterprises
The European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE) has developed two comparative tables to map and analyse how EU Member States support Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) through quotas and tax incentives. These tools aim to provide insights into promotion policies, offering a clearer picture of the national measures that enhance employment and social inclusion for disadvantaged individuals.
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Philea launches a survey on environmental funding in Europe
The European Philanthropy Association, Philea, through the European Environmental Funders Group (EEFG), has launched a new survey to assess the evolution of European foundations’ contributions to environmental projects. The aim is to provide an overview of philanthropic giving in this field and to prepare the seventh edition of its report Environmental Funding by European Foundations, a resource that tracks how EU philanthropy supports environmental action.
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New issue of the Portuguese journal ‘Economia Social, Leituras & Debates’ on the challenges of the cooperative sector
The Portuguese journal ‘Economia Social, Leituras & Debates’, published by the António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy (CASES), has released its 23rd issue, corresponding to 2025. This edition is devoted to “Opportunities and Challenges for the Cooperative Sector,” in commemoration of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The issue is also dedicated to the memory of Rui Namorado, jurist, former president of the Scientific Council of CIRIEC-Portugal, who passed away last January.
Read moreSocial Economy Schedule
2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress - Barcelona, 29-30 September 2025
The 2nd CIRIEC-Spain Legal Congress will take place on 29 and 30 September 2025 in Barcelona, under the slogan “Legal challenges of the social economy: sustainability and efficiency”. The Congress is being held at a historic moment for the social economy, which is facing significant challenges at all levels. The aim of this major event, organised by CIRIEC in collaboration with Tecnocampus (Mataró) - Pompeu Fabra University, is to arouse interest in this economic and social field among lawyers from all branches and orientations. The final programme and registration form are available.
+infoUN Second World Summit for Social Development, Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025
The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolutions 78/261 and 78/318, decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025, under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development.” Convening at the level of Heads of State or Government, the summit aims to address the gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Stakeholders are invited to apply to host a side event during Summit.
+infoThe Mont Blanc Meetings will be back on January 29 and 30, 2026, in Geneva
The Mont Blanc Meetings are organised by ESS Forum International with the aim of bringing together the main leaders and actors of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) from around the world, promoting debate, collaboration and political impact. Since its creation, 11 editions have been held. Save the date!
+infoAfrican Forum on Social Economy FORA'ESS - January 20 to 24, 2026 - Brazzaville (Republic of Congo)
After Cameroon in 2024, FORA’ESS will hold its second edition in 2026 in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo). This continental event will bring together the ecosystem of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) actors around key themes to reflect, co-build, and strengthen solidarity-based, sustainable, and inclusive economic models in Africa. The FORA’ESS organizing committee is launching a call for proposals aimed at researchers, field practitioners, local authorities, networks, institutions, cooperatives, mutual organizations, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, and SSE stakeholders, in order to contribute to the various plenaries, workshops, and sessions.
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