Social Economy Europe (SEE) has published a letter setting out its priorities and objectives for the Social Economy in 2026, as well as the major challenges facing the sector in Europe. In a context of “serious economic and military threats from other superpowers for the first time in over 80 years”, as the statement warns, “the EU has redefined its priorities, focusing primarily on defence and competitiveness, while relegating social justice and sustainability to the background”.
In this context, the EU has also chosen to strengthen traditional strategic sectors and reduce social spending, a decision which, in SEE’s view, amounts to addressing today’s problems with the same recipes that helped to create them.
According to the manifesto, the European Commission has so far prioritised an export-oriented economic model, with particular attention paid to industries such as the automotive sector, which generates high turnover and millions of jobs, but also displays high levels of pollution and a significant risk of relocation. By contrast, the social economy — which generates a similar economic volume and directly employs more than 11 million people in the EU — is receiving declining support, despite its proven contribution to social added value.
For SEE, concrete and innovative solutions do exist to bring about positive change in Europe in 2026, at a time when the EU indeed needs to be “more competitive on a global scale while ensuring its industrial autonomy”.
The document focuses on strategic sectors such as housing, energy, health, care, sustainable food systems, the circular economy and the European digital space, where the social economy helps to keep prices affordable and to guarantee essential services for cohesive societies. In this regard, it recalls the words of Enrico Letta, author of the report on the future of the Single Market commissioned by the European Council, who argues that the Single Market is “more than a market” and must explicitly integrate inclusion and cohesion.
A strong commitment to the green and digital transitions
The green and digital transitions also occupy a central place in the document. Social Economy Europe warns of the EU’s high level of dependence on the United States and China for raw materials, digital infrastructure and software, and advocates for a distinct European digital model based on individuals’ sovereignty over the use of their data, a fair redistribution of the wealth generated and a democratic design oriented towards the common good. These elements, the organisation notes, are essential not only for innovation and productivity, but also for collective mental health, economic fairness and democratic quality.
With regard to the ecological transition, the manifesto insists that it should not be conceived solely as an environmental obligation, but as a genuine economic driver. The global commitment to renewable energy demonstrates, in its view, that sustainable development has become an unavoidable necessity for governments and businesses alike, and that the EU must position itself at the forefront before it is too late.
Defence, the main challenge
The text also addresses the debate on European defence. Faced with a scenario “in which the United States is no longer a reliable ally”, the EU needs to strengthen its deterrence capacity, not only through military investment, but also against cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns. Nevertheless, the manifesto stresses that European defence must also be understood as the protection of the values enshrined in Article 2 of the EU Treaty: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. It therefore calls for every euro spent on military defence to be matched by an equivalent investment in social spending and the strengthening of civil society.
Looking ahead, the document identifies 2026 as a key year, marked by the negotiations on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. With a limited EU budget and growing needs, Social Economy Europe warns that these negotiations will be decisive for the success or failure of the European project. At the same time, it argues that national budgets, which are more flexible, should help to reduce growing inequalities, avoiding once again the burden of austerity policies falling on the most vulnerable people.
Social Economy Europe reaffirms its commitment to continue defending ambitious social and environmental policies, funding and investments. The manifesto concludes with a message of hope: a positive economic model, serving people, the planet and democracy, already exists. It simply needs a fair political framework and strong support to thrive. Looking towards 2026, the organisation calls on all like-minded actors to join forces to build the economy that Europe needs
