Torino Social Impact took part in the Social Economy Week and the European Social Economy Summit, held from September 16 to 18 in Murcia, one of Spain’s most dynamic and forward-looking cities on this topic, and part of a national context that continues to stand out in Europe as a reference model for the development and support of the social economy, thanks to solid public policies and a very active ecosystem.
The event, organized by Social Economy Europe, the Brussels-based network chaired by Juan Antonio Pedreño, working to strengthen the role of the social economy, represented a crucial moment of exchange and reflection on the future of the social economy, especially from the perspective of European policies. The debate came at a particularly significant stage: on the one hand, the mid-term evaluation of the European Social Economy Action Plan; on the other, the change of course introduced earlier this year by the European Commission, which redefined the competence over the dossier, removing it from DG Grow and thus ending its traditional joint management with the directorates responsible for social affairs, which now remain its sole reference. This decision marked a setback compared to the vision of the social economy as an integral part of key ecosystems for European economic development, precisely at a time when funding availability, attention, and opportunities were on the rise at the European level.
At the heart of the discussions in Murcia was also the monitoring of the implementation of the 2023 EU Council Recommendation on the social economy. Several of the 27 Member States presented the state of play in their transposition process, while an interministerial dialogue highlighted the different speeds of policy implementation and the varying strength of national legislative frameworks.
In a changing geopolitical context, shaped by new priorities related to defense and competitiveness, the need emerged to reaffirm and concretely demonstrate the strategic role of the social economy: not only as a tool to foster inclusive and sustainable development, but also as a founding element for building the future of the European economic model, rooted in a strong social identity and a value system to be defended and strengthened.
This perspective, aimed at promoting the recognition of the centrality of the social economy, was also presented through concrete experiences: best practices, innovative enterprises, data and research, connections with technological frontiers, local initiatives, and action plans. Particular attention was dedicated to the capacity of the social economy to generate and interpret data with transformative purposes, outlining paths to make solutions not only innovative but also systemic and replicable.
The debate engaged a broad and diverse audience: institutional representatives at all levels of government (local, national, and European), members of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup, networks and platforms such as Torino Social Impact, social enterprises, representative bodies, academics, and stakeholders.
The Summit also saw the participation of European Commissioner Roxana Minzatu, whose presence carried significant political weight. In her speech, she sought to reassure about the European Union’s renewed commitment to strengthening the social economy—not only through concrete tools such as the regulatory framework on taxation and state aid, social procurement, the definition of common standards, new financial instruments, access to private capital, and greater visibility, but also by promoting a cross-cutting approach that integrates the theme of the social economy into different areas of EU policy.
Her message was clear: the social economy is not alone, even in this phase of economic and political uncertainty. Despite financial revisions, the intention is to continue supporting this sector and entrepreneurial fabric, which not only creates economic value but reinvests it, and has great resilience and adaptability in times of crisis.
The conference concluded with a shared awareness: the current moment should not be seen as a setback for the social economy, but as an opportunity to consolidate its strategic vision and make it a structural component of European policies. The goal is ambitious yet necessary: to make the social economy a cross-cutting pillar of the Union’s economic, educational, social, and cultural strategies, ensuring that the values of inclusion, sustainability, and cohesion become an integral part of Europe’s future.
Archivio:
