The Commission publishes the mid-term review.
In March 2026, the European Commission published the mid-term review of the Social Economy Action Plan, highlighting both the results achieved in the first years of implementation and, above all, the strategic directions for the future.
This marks a key milestone, providing an initial assessment of the strategy adopted by the European Union in 2021, aimed at improving the enabling conditions and visibility of the social economy by 2030.
The European Commission reiterates that the sector is a fundamental pillar for the EU’s prosperity, competitiveness, and resilience. The report opens with an overview of the current landscape: the social economy counts 4.3 million organisations, providing around 11.5 million jobs across the EU—6.3% of total employment.
Equally relevant are data on public perception. According to a recent report by Eurobarometer, a strong majority of Europeans support measures for the social economy: 88% believe strategic and legislative action is needed; 86% consider it important to support the creation and growth of social economy organisations; 86% support education and awareness initiatives; and 80% believe public support should also include dedicated funding.
The impact of the Action Plan is visible at national level: between 2021 and 2025, 21 Member States have adopted or worked on national or local strategies for the social economy. However, the Commission notes that support remains highly uneven, both across countries and between different levels of governance.
Beyond assessing progress, the 2026 mid-term review outlines a clear vision for the future, based on three main objectives: building a social economy that is
- competitive, operating on a level playing field within the single market;
- robust, with improved access to finance and strengthened through acceleration and growth pathways for organisations and talent;
- recognised, supported by reliable data and increased visibility.
To achieve these goals, the Commission has identified key priority areas:
- Regulatory integration, strengthening multilevel governance with clearer rules and more coherent legal and fiscal frameworks to reduce administrative burdens.
- Investment and skills, including technical and financial support tools within the next EU multiannual budget, alongside initiatives to promote inclusive and social entrepreneurship through incubation models.
- Statistical robustness, promoting harmonised data collection to better monitor progress and demonstrate the sector’s added value.
In addition, several concrete actions are planned. From a regulatory perspective, these include a stronger focus on socially responsible public procurement, prioritising best value and social impact over lowest price; integration of social economy organisations into value chains; fiscal measures to incentivise investment; and a revision of State aid rules to facilitate public funding.
In terms of investment and skills, in collaboration with the OECD, the Commission will define targets and indicators to attract private capital, improve access to microcredit, and promote inclusive incubation models, as well as studies on integrating social entrepreneurship into national education systems.
Regarding data, guided by transparency, the Commission will support Member States in developing more systematic data collection approaches, updating mappings and strengthening the EU Social Economy Gateway as a central hub for data, publications, and resources.
Achieving these objectives will require a joint effort by the Commission, European institutions, and Member States, with continuous monitoring. The next major reporting milestone is scheduled for 2027, when national governments will provide updates.
The report is accompanied by a detailed document covering the implementation status of 63 actions, an overview of EU funding under the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, national strategies, and stakeholder consultation outcomes, including best practices.
The ultimate goal remains unchanged: a transition towards a more equitable and sustainable Europe, where the social economy is fully integrated and recognised as a driver of innovation and democracy.
For further information, the full document is available on the EU Social Economy Gateway.
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