Last Wednesday in Strasbourg, the social economy once again took a step forward with the approval by the European Parliament of the report promoted by the Social Economy Intergroup, headed by the MEP and spokesperson for Employment and Social Affairs, Jordi Cañas, to implement the European Action Plan for the Social Economy.
The report was approved by a large majority of the Plenary, with 493 votes in favor, 75 against and 69 abstentions, which means, for Cepes, “absolute support for the promotion of the social economy in Europe” through the European Action Plan of Social Economy.
The Plan was presented by the European Commission last December and the proposal approved yesterday by Parliament makes several contributions to it. This report will guide the recommendations that the European Council is expected to adopt next year.
«We are facing a unique moment for the social economy business model that we had not experienced before. This support implies that the European institutions consider the social economy to be a lever for change in the EU and that, necessarily, it must be part of all community policies to respond to the challenges that Europe faces”, indicated the president of Cepes, Social Economy Europe and Ucomur, Juan Antonio Pedreño. “This approval means that the European Parliament urges the Commission, the Member States and the agents of the social economy to go further in promoting the social economy in Europe, with the aim of increasing the weight of the social economy in European employment from 6.3% to 10% in 2030′.
The policy of this plan includes more than 50 specific actions that will be implemented until 2030, in key areas such as state aid, legal and political frameworks, socially responsible public procurement and access to markets, promotion of the social economy at the local, regional and international; business support, skills, youth entrepreneurship, access to European funding; contribution of the social economy to the green and digital transitions, social innovation and recognition, among others.
Legislative and financial framework
The text that has received the support of the European Parliament requires a legislative and financial framework that promotes the social economy business model throughout the EU.
Thus, it urges the different states to provide a common definition of social economy in accordance with the main characteristics of the model, to facilitate the creation of social economy entities in all countries. Spain is one of the most advanced countries in this regard, being a pioneer in approving Law 5/2011 on Social Economy eleven years ago.
Greater presence of women and youth
The report also proposes specific training for young people, such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy, greater use of Erasmus Plus and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs opportunities, and the integration of this model at all educational levels.
On the other hand, it points out that women represent more than 60% of employees in the social economy, and the salary and leadership differences are smaller than in other models, for which reason it asks the Commission and the Member States to eliminate all barriers for women to achieve gender equality; calls for the strengthening of the gender perspective in policies and access to financing for women who participate in entities of the social economy.
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