On 9 June, CECOP and our Portuguese member CONFECOOP co-organised, with the support of Cooperativa António Sérgio para a Economia Social (CASES), a workshop focused on the role of cooperatives and social economy entities in driving inclusive economic growth. The event took place in Lisbon, Portugal, and online.

"The social economy is not a niche sector, it is a concrete way to responding to real needs. With direct impact on the lives of people, it creates employment and strengthens social cohesion – and cooperatives have a particular role to play." – Dr Filipa Lima, Secretary of State for Social Security, Portugal

The workshop kicked off with a speech by Dr Filipa Lima, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Social Security, who emphasised that the social economy, far from being marginal, creates employment and strengthens social cohesion. Thanks to their distinctive characteristic of proximity, cooperatives and other social economy entities have a tangible impact on people’s lives, responding to their real needs. Dr Lima also acknowledged the role of CASES, a platform which, since its creation, has facilitated institutional cooperation with the cooperative sector.

In his welcome address, Jaume Oller Rosell, Vice-President of CECOP, underlined that cooperatives can significantly contribute to achieving a more economically competitive and socially just Europe, provided that the social economy is recognised as a strategic priority in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the Social Economy Action Plan is reinforced, and socially responsible public procurement is mainstreamed.

Joaquim Pequicho, Chair of CONFECOOP Board and CECOP Board member, then zoomed in on the Portuguese cooperative experience, noting how the cooperative movement has served as a school of democracy and provided long-lasting solutions for adapting to difficult challenges. He stressed that, to be effective instruments for the future, cooperatives need stable, predictable, legally sound institutional dialogue that generates trust and support that helps develop their potential.

The first panel laid the foundations for the discussion, illustrating the policy and institutional landscape for the social economy and cooperatives.

"The EU's competitiveness agenda is clear: we need an economy that is both innovative and inclusive. The social economy is living proof that these two goals are not in contradiction." – Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, DG EMPL, European Commission

Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, Head of Unit G3, Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship, DG EMPL, European Commission, outlined the vision underpinning the mid-term review of the Social Economy Action Plan for a robust and recognised social economy. The social economy, she stated, can play a vital role in implementing the EU’s competitiveness agenda, as it exemplifies how innovation and inclusion can be combined.

Carolina Ferreira, Policy Analyst, Social Economy and Innovation Unit at OECD, presented the recommendations on institutional frameworks – addressed to the Portuguese government – drawn up as part of the project “Supporting the Development of the Social Economy as a Driver for Growth”, funded by the EU via the Technical Support Instrument. In view of the preparation of the national strategy for the social economy, improvements must include consultation mechanisms that are effectively guaranteed at national, regional and local levels, and the integration of the social economy’s contribution into various areas of government.

Giorgia Sordoni, Regional President of Confcooperative Federsolidarietà Marche (Italy) and CECOP Board member, closed the roundtable by reflecting on the success factors that have enabled the Italian cooperative movement to flourish, including institutional recognition. However, she added, the ability of cooperatives to innovate could be further strengthened by involving cooperatives in the design of public policies and developing flexible financial instruments at European and national level.

The second panel focused on the Portuguese context, its challenges and the road ahead, featuring four distinguished speakers: Francisco Silvia, Secretary General of CPES (Confederação Portuguesa de Economia Social); Paula Correia, Member of the technical team, Department of Volunteering, Projects and Social Innovation at CASES; João Delgado, President of the Fiscal Council at CIRIEC Portugal; and Celia Pereira, Director of Alternative, Social and Ethical Financing, CRESAÇOR (Cooperativa Regional de Economia Solidária, CRL).

The speakers agreed that the social economy must be considered as an active player in the country’s economy, alongside the public and private sectors, with which it is ready to cooperate. For this reason, it is necessary for the social economy to be involved in social consultations, including through a reform of the National Council of Social Economy (Conselho Nacional para a Economia Social – CNES), especially at a time when the EU and its Member States are negotiating how funds will be allocated in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

The priorities that the speakers identified for the social economy are aligned with the findings of a survey conducted in preparation for the drafting of the Portuguese national strategy for the social economy: funding opportunities, better access to public procurement, and trainings for decision-makers on the social economy. According to them, developing tailored instruments that address these priorities would foster the sector’s transformative capacity to combat inequality, ensure decent life, and uphold peace.

“The social economy has great potential to address today’s challenges. To be part of the solution, it must be properly recognised and supported by adequate legal and financial frameworks.” – Diana Dovgan, CECOP Secretary General

In her closing remarks, Diana Dovgan, Secretary General of CECOP, reiterated the need to create spaces for cooperation and dialogue at all levels of government that enable co-creation of knowledge, public policies and solutions developed for and with the community, in the interest of shared responsibility. For its part, CECOP supports this process by providing a platform for discussion to enhance cooperation within the movement.

 

This event is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.