News of the European Social Economy
SEN#46December 2025
Cooperatives and shared progress: Valencia to host the 2026 ICA CCR European Congress
By Elena Meliá Martí, Director of the Centre for Research in Business Management (CEGEA) at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and Jos Bijman, from the International Cooperative Alliance Committee on Cooperative Research Europe (ICA CCR Europe).
From 3 to 6 November 2026, Valencia will become the European epicenter of cooperative thinking, research, and practice with the celebration of the ICA CCR European Congress. Organized by the Centre for Business Management Research (CEGEA) at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, following the mandate of the Committee on Cooperative Research (CCR) of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the meeting will take place on the university's premises.
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The European Social Economy and Third Sector send a letter to EU Heads of State and Government urging them to safeguard the European Social Fund
More than twenty European platforms representing the Social Economy and Third Sector, including Social Economy Europe (SEE) and Social Platform, have sent a letter to European Heads of State and Government, in the context of the European Council meeting on 18 and 19 December, urging them to safeguard the European Social Fund (ESF) ‘as the Union's main instrument for social cohesion, ensuring that no one is left behind and that investment in people remains central to the future of Europe’.
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The 5th Technical Symposium of the United Nations Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) met in Murcia (Spain)
The Forum brought together representatives of the Task Force's member organisations, belonging to some twenty UN agencies, as well as representatives of observer entities, including Social Economy Europe and CIRIEC-International. This is the first time that this Forum has been held in Spain, positioning it as a global centre for the social economy.
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The EESC promotes the industrial cooperative model as a driver of inclusive and sustainable competitiveness in Europe
The document, entitled ‘Industrial cooperatives: a tool for meeting the challenge of inclusive and sustainable competitiveness’, was drafted by Giuseppe Guerini, who was accompanied by Michal Pintér as co-rapporteur. It stresses that cooperatives, due to their democratic structure and focus on the equitable redistribution of profits, represent a resilient and adaptable business model in the face of contemporary economic and social challenges.
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Call for Papers for the European Research Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) 2026 – Valencia, 3–6 November
The event is expected to bring together researchers, educators, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe and other parts of the world to explore current trends, issues and perspectives in the cooperative sector. It offers a platform for dialogue between cooperative research and practice, fostering exchange, collaboration and the dissemination of cutting-edge research on cooperatives.
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The 11th Iberian Colloquium on Social Economy will take place from 27 to 29 May 2026 in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal)
The Portuguese and Spanish sections of CIRIEC are jointly organising the 11th Iberian Colloquium on Social Economy, which will be held from 27 to 29 May 2026 in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) under the theme “Social Economy and Territorial Cohesion – The role of regional and local government”. CIRIEC-Spain encourages participation in the colloquium through the submission of papers, with the deadline for abstracts set for 4 February.
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France celebrates the 18th edition of the Social and Solidarity Economy Month, promoted by ESS France
The Social and Solidarity Economy Month is a time of mobilisation and visibility that each year brings together a wide diversity of actors around thousands of events. During the 2025 edition, there were nearly 1,300 registered events and more than 500 committed actors helping to bring this collective initiative to life.
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Slovenia: Strategy for the Development of the Social Economy 2025–2035 approved
The strategy defines four strategic objectives: increased visibility of the social economy and social entrepreneurship; greater opportunities for the development, operation and strengthening of social economy organisations and social enterprises; an effective support environment for the social economy and social entrepreneurship; and professionalised social economy organisations.
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Call for the Best Doctoral Thesis Award in Memory of Carlo Borzaga
The Venetian Foundation for Peace Research and EURICSE have opened the call for applications for the Best Doctoral Thesis Award in memory of Professor Carlo Borzaga. The award is sponsored by the University of Trento and promoted in collaboration with the Cooperative Research Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA, CCR), the international EMES research network, and CIRIEC-International.
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The EU Strategy for Civil Society and the European Democracy Shield, new tools of the European Commission to safeguard its democracies
The European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society put forward measures designed to protect the fundamental pillars of our democratic systems: free people, free and fair elections, free and independent media, a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.
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New OECD report ‘Social Economy in Europe. Contributing to Competitiveness and Prosperity’
The report ‘Social Economy in Europe. Contributing to Competitiveness and Prosperity’ was prepared by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, and forms part of the Centre’s Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme. It was produced in collaboration with the European Union, within the framework of the commitments set out in its Action Plan for the Social Economy.
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Presentation of the 8th Report on Ethical Finance in Europe, “Capital for the Common Good: Ethical Banks and the Social Economy for the Future of Europe”
The report was presented on 1 December in Brussels, at an event organised by the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament, bringing together policymakers, financial sector experts and key representatives of the European social economy. The presentation of the report within the premises of the European Parliament underscores the growing recognition of ethical finance as a viable and robust financial model, and reinforces its role as a strategic ally of the European Union.
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The 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.
+info35th CIRIEC International Congress – Montreal 2026
From October 5 to 8, 2026, CIRIEC International and CIRIEC-Canada invite you to Montreal to participate in a collective reflection on the theme “Taking Care of the World: the Vital Contribution of the Social Economy and Public Enterprises”. This edition will bring together researchers, public policy-makers, practitioners and representatives of public enterprises and the social economy from around the world. This major international event will provide a space for reflection and exchange with players on the fundamental role of the social economy and public enterprises in ecological transition, social justice and democratic governance. Save the date!
