Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), the second European Social Economy Regions (ESER) conference took place in Brussels on 20 June 2024 with around 50 participants from local and regional European public organisations.
The event included updates on some of the key initiatives of the European Commission relevant to the social economy ecosystem in policy areas such as industrial policy, employment and social affairs research & innovation and regional development.
During the conference, ESER members had the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments, identify challenges for the social economy at regional and local levels, and share their experience as regards the implementation of the Transition Pathway for the Proximity and Social Economy Ecosystem,
- social economy | non-governmental organisation
- Thursday 20 June 2024, 09:45 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Brussels, Belgium
Practical information
- When
- Thursday 20 June 2024, 09:45 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Where
- Centre de congrès AmazoneRue du Méridien 10 B, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English
- Organisers
- Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Description
The European Social Economy Regions (ESER) Initiative was established by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs in 2018 to raise awareness about social economy at regional/local level and to build a network of social economy stakeholders.
Today, 55 regions and municipalities from 16 European countries are part of the ESER network and form a lively community of engaged members.
The ESER Conference 2024 will took stock of recent developments in EU regions and helped identify priorities that can feed into the work of the next European Commission in shaping the future EU social economy ecosystem.
Event report
During the plenary session, Hubert Gambs, the Deputy Director General of DG GROW, and Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga and member of the Committee of the Regions, emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in the social economy for the green and digital transition.
A European Commission panel discussed policies related to the social economy and relevant funding opportunities. See the panel presentations.
Alessia Di Gregorio, deputy Head of Unit Proximity, Social economy, Cultural and Creative industries, provided insights on ‘The Proximity and Social Economy Ecosystem Transition Pathway’ and invited all ecosystem stakeholders, including ESER members, to express their pledges.
Presentations from the following two parallel sessions are available.
During the discussion, participants called for regular updates on funding opportunities and more opportunities for the social economy community to gather, both in person and in remotely.
Key challenges and opportunities for the development of social economy ecosystems were highlighted.
Awareness
Increasing awareness of the social economy and its value among local populations, policymakers, and other stakeholders is essential. Social economy players need to recognise their role, foster a sense of belonging, and improve cooperation among themselves and with others, including in policy-making.
Education
Young people deserve special attention. Education on the social economy model should be mainstreamed in schools, universities and other educational institutions to promote its development in Europe’s cities and regions. Social economy management courses are also needed, as future leaders often lack the necessary managerial skills not covered by traditional business.
Countryside
Rural areas offer significant potential as hubs for social economy development. Beyond cities, the social economy is often a key driver of rural revitalisation and development.
More information
To apply for membership, please see the ESER Call for Expression of Interest.
For more information see the ESER webpage.
Contact: GROW-SOCIAL-ENTERPRISE
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-SOCIAL-ENTERPRISE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)