In 2018, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) renewed the expert group on social economy and social enterprises (the group), initially created in 2012 by the Social Business Initiative.
The group was renewed for six years, from 2018 until July 2024, and has assisted the Commission by providing guidance and expertise in social economy and social entrepreneurship development.
As mentioned in the Social Economy Action Plan, the Commission committed to continue to work with the expert group on social economy and social enterprises to deliver the proposed actions.
The current membership of the group will expire in July 2024. Therefore, the Commission intends to renew it.
The new members will be invited to advise the Commission’s services on implementing the SEAP and the transition pathway for the ‘proximity and social economy’ industrial ecosystem.
The political momentum created by the adoption of the SEAP, the release of the transition pathway for the ‘proximity and social economy’ industrial ecosystem, and the Council Recommendation constitute the ground for re-defining the composition and tasks of the group.
The group will
- assist the Commission in implementing measures envisaged in the Commission’s Communication ‘Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy’
- advise the Commission on how to best implement policy measures in the field of industrial policy for social economy, in particular, the development of the transition pathway for the ‘Proximity and Social Economy’ industrial ecosystem
- assist the Commission by providing advice and expertise on the follow-up to the implementation of the Council recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions in EU countries
- assist the Commission in the preparation of legislative proposals and policy initiatives in the field of social economy and social enterprise
- reflect on how to best incorporate social economy and social enterprise issues in Commission policies and funding
- bring about an exchange of experience and good practice in the social economy and social enterprise field and contribute to awareness-raising.
The Commission is calling for applications to select members of the group other than EU countries' authorities.
This call will be open for four weeks. The evaluation of applications will take place in May 2024.
Deadline: Applicants must send duly signed applications by 10 May 2024 - Close of business.
More information
Call for applications - Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities