SOFIGREEN cross-border event: Social and Solidarity Economy organizations analyse the current European context and will closely monitor the development of policies supporting the sector.

More than 40 Social and Solidarity Economy Enterprises from the SOFIGREEN programme met on 19 June at a new international event organised by the programme to analyse the current situation and the foreseeable setback in EU policies to support the sector.

The session featured the participation of Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of the European network Social Economy Europe, in a conversation led by Luigi Martignetti, Secretary General of the REVES network, and shared with Ranier Schlueter, former Secretary General of CECOP and former Director of Cooperatives Europe and the International Co-operative Alliance.

During the session, participants reflected on the evolution of European policies to support the social economy, their origins and the current context of uncertainty, including the recent closure of the specialised unit in the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission (DG GROW). It hasn’t helped the fact that “social economy in Europe, although larger than the automotive sector and only slightly smaller than the tourism sector, doesn’t represent a specific sector itself, but it is transversal” noted Luigi Martignetti. The participants were able to exchange views on the practical implications for the entities and to propose coordinated sectoral actions to strengthen policy advocacy at different levels (local, national and European).

The group expressed its concern about the current situation, while claiming the essential role of the Social and Solidarity Economy for the different member states, putting life at the centre, building more resilient communities and strengthening democratic systems. For this reason, special attention will be paid to the forthcoming decisions of the European Commission, as well as the impact of major events such as the Global Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy, to be held in Bordeaux in October.

It was also noted the need to act proactively from the territories (local level) and to join forces to promote coordinated actions to raise awareness and denounce (at national and European level), such as the recent call to action promoted by REVES, in which cities and regions that share the values ​​of the Social Economy commit themselves to intensifying their commitment to social cohesion, economy and democracy.

Finally, the SOFIGREEN participants committed to continue working in the next international events of the programme, to continue the reflection and shape a joint sector response for next autumn.

The entities will meet again virtually on 3rd July, to continue developing capacities in terms of access to green finance, and in person in Osuna (Seville) on 10th and 11th September, in a session that will allow them to share the lessons learned, as well as to strengthen cooperation ties for the future.

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