Actions and strategy for the social economy and social enterprises The way forward General Presentation
The legacy Communication on a Social Business Initiative (2011) follow-up; Council Conclusions on the Social Economy (December 2015), EP resolutions, EESC opinions, CoR opinions; GECES report and recommendations (October 2016); "Start up and Scale-up" Initiative (October 2016); Political and institutional context: EFSI/White Paper on the future of Europe/European Pillar of Social Rights as windows of opportunity; Series of actions coordinated by the launch of an Internal Task Force between different services (January 2017).
Presentation of the actions Implementation of actions scheduled for 2017-2018. Five pillars to be developed: 1. Access to funding; 2. Access to markets; 3. Improving framework conditions; 4. Social innovation, technologies and new business models; 5. International dimension.
Pillar 1: Access to finance 1. Reinforcing EasI guarantee and debt finance window; 2. Implementing blended instruments under EFSI Equity; 3. Working on the revision of the EuSEF Regulation (2013); 4. Stimulating support for Social Enterprise Financing Markets under EaSI.
Pillar 2: Access to markets 1. Implementing the revised rules on qualitative public procurement; 2. Reinforcing the cooperation between traditional enterprises and social economy enterprises; 3. Identifying entry points for social enterprise/social innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility policy and related actions; 4. Stimulating cross-border activities for social economy and social enterprises;
Pillar 3: Improving framework conditions 1. Preparing guidelines to assist Member States in developing regulatory frameworks for the social economy and social enterprises (if they wish to); 2. Possibly updating the Guide on SGEI; 3. Updating the mapping of social enterprise ecosystems in Europe; 4. Producing four in-depth country reviews with the OECD; 5. Disseminating the EC/OECD compendium of social enterprises policies and initiatives to showcase successful national initiatives;
Pillar 3: Improving framework conditions 6. Developing in co-operation with the OECD online policy assessment tools for inclusive and social entrepreneurship policies for local and regional and national authorities; 7. Boosting the establishment of social economy and social enterprise satellite accounts in national statistical accounts; 8. Promoting the creation of social economy clusters in different Member States;
Pillar 3: Improving framework conditions 9. Implementing the Pilot Project "Transfer of businesses under form of cooperatives"; 10. Implementing the Pilot Project "Reduction of young unemployment and the setting up of cooperatives".
Pillar 4: Social innovation, technologies and new business models 1. Reflecting on the use and impact of new technologies by social economy actors and particularly social enterprises; 2. Implementing the Pilot Project 'Sharing Economy Start-up initiative Financing the future of European Entrepreneurship; 3. Building the momentum for social innovation and supporting concrete projects through the European Social Innovation Competition;
Pillar 4: Social innovation, technologies and new business models 4. Launching and managing the Social Innovation Challenge Platform which will help to find solutions for important social challenges; 5. Increasing visibility for concrete projects on social innovation, social economy & enterprises, social impact investment under Horizon 2020; 6. Reinforcing and mainstreaming the experimentation of Digital Social Innovation models under Horizon 2020.
Pillar 5: International dimension 1. Promoting social economy and social enterprises in neighbourhood/enlargement policies and programmes; 2. Promoting social economy and social enterprises in development policies and SDGs objectives; 3. Economic Diplomacy: promoting the role of social economy and social enterprises in international fora (UNTFSSE, ILGSSE, G20, G7, ILO ); 4. Promoting the relations with International Finance Organisations and Donor Community: 5. Cross-cutting actions.
Further information Executive Summary and Recommendations available in all EU languages in the Website https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/socialeconomy @SocEntEU