Social enterprises and the social economy take the floor of the European Parliament to underline their contribution to the Lisbon Strategy
Four senior researchers, three of them founding members of the EMES European Research Network, argued in favour of a more targeted policy on social enterprises and the social economy in Europe in front of two Commissioner in the European Parliament in Brussels
They highlighted the unique role played by the social economy in the building of a European social model and the crucial role that social enterprises can play in solving some of contemporary society’s basic challenges. Their testimony followed up on an open letter signed by more than 400 scholars, calling on Europe to strengthen the social enterprise and social economy sector.
For the first time in history,social scientists devoted to the study of the social economy sector were invited to take the floor at the European Parliament last Wednesday, October 13th. The session was attended by two of the most relevant EU Commissioners with regard to this topic, as well as some Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the sector across Europe. Commissioner Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, and Commissioner Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship followed the presentation together with Jean-Paul Gauzès and Patrizia Toia, Members of the European Parliament.
See the pressrelease from The European research Network