The subject of the Conference was the implementation of the European Commission’s Action Plan for the Social Economy, published in December 2021. The meeting was hosted by France and was attended by the representatives of more than twenty European countries.

Common position

The Action Plan presents various proposals for the development of the social economy both at national and European level. The Action Plan proposes, inter alia, solutions to unlock the potential of the social economy in order to create jobs with high social added value and contribute to the green and digital transitions.

The objective of the conference is to present a common political position on the social economy, which will be published in a communication developed jointly by the countries participating in the conference.

Awareness and law

Deputy Minister Stanisław Szwed also spoke in the panel entitled Raising awareness about the social economy and building a legal framework. In his opinion, Poland positively rates the Action Plan for the Social Economy, the more that the social economy is one of the priorities of the Polish social policy as a tool for socio-professional activation of persons at risk of social exclusion.

- Our experience is part of its assumptions, additionally stressing the role of social economy entities in guaranteeing the availability of social services in the deinstitutionalised formula and as flywheels for local economies – said Deputy Minister Szwed.

The Ministry of Family and Social Policy prepared a draft Act on the social economy, which is at an advanced stage of work – it has been submitted to the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers. Its entry into force will constitute a new development impulse for the sector and will contribute to building the brand of social economy in common consciousness.