Supporting the development of the social economy as a driver for growth

The development of the social economy varies across Croatia, France, Greece, Portugal, and Wallonia (Belgium). Croatia aims to establish a unified framework to improve recognition and funding. In France, the social economy accounts for about 10% of employment and benefits from strong institutional backing. The country is set to develop a 10-year social economy strategy and a satellite account. Greece adopted the Social and Solidarity Economy Law in 2013 and the Action Plan focused on institutional frameworks, capacity building, and promoting work integration and inclusion via Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) at national level. There is still a need to reflect the development of the social economy at regional and local levels. Portugal recognises the social economy through its 2013 Framework Law and aims to develop the social economy through a comprehensive national strategy and monitoring framework. In Wallonia (Belgium) the social economy is well-established, accounting for nearly 15% of employment. At EU level, the Council of the EU adopted in 2023 a Recommendation on Developing Social Economy framework conditions, aiming to enhance social inclusion and access to economic opportunities. This project will help implement the Recommendation to expand and develop the social economy in the five countries.

Each country will benefit from tailored, evidence-based support to establish better enabling framework conditions for the social economy. The recommendations for the design or adaptation of social economy strategies in each beneficiary Member State will be developed based on an initial situation analysis.

The project will start by assessing the specific country context of social economy in each beneficiary Member State, through desk research and fact-finding meetings with relevant stakeholders. A series of joint activities will also bring together policy makers, social economy entities, and experts from different EU countries to exchange good practices and build capacity in strategic areas, namely: governance and stakeholder collaboration, access to finance for social economy entities, development of a framework for a satellite account methodology, development of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), and raising public awareness through communication plans.

Findings will be summarised in a report on EU good practices regarding the social economy, including recommendations and policy implications for the five countries. More specifically the recommendations will focus on: 

• Croatia: a new strategic framework including stakeholder consultation mechanisms, a national definition for all legal forms, a monitoring and evaluation framework, and a financial instrument to improve access to funding and financing.
• France: a communication plan to raise public awareness of the upcoming 10-year national strategy, accompanied by a monitoring and evaluation system as well as a satellite account.
• Greece: a regional social economy action plan, with a replication methodology for broader use in other regions that can be leveraged to manage demographic change, as well as targeted recommendations to foster WISEs.
• Portugal: a national social economy strategy, with a clear governance approach to stakeholder engagement while introducing a monitoring and evaluation system and a communication plan.
• Wallonia (Belgium): a new regional strategy for promoting the social economy, along with a monitoring and evaluation system and a communication plan aimed at reaching new audiences.

Project results will be presented at a final dissemination event, to be held in the second quarter of 2027.

The technical support is expected to strengthen policy coherence and institutional capacity across the five beneficiary countries, fostering environments where social economy entities can thrive.

By improving governance mechanisms, stakeholder collaboration, and access to finance, the project will help mainstream the social economy into broader economic and social policies. It will also enhance social economy visibility and promote peer learning across Member States. Ultimately, the project aims to position the social economy as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe, in line with the 2023 Council Recommendation.