Presentation by Apostolos Ioakimidis, Policy Officer (Entrepreunership 2020 Cooperatives, Mutuals, Social Enterprises, Family Businesses), DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission, on the occasion of the EESC conference on "Social economy and social innovation as drivers of competitiveness, growth and social well-being - Perspecitves and priorities for the new Commission and the European Parliament" (Brussels, 1 October 2014)

1. Social Economy Entreprises
Cooperatives, Mutuals, Foundations,
Associations, Social Entreprises

2. Introduction
• Enterprises organised to make profits not
only for investors.
• Favourable environment for social economy
enterprises so that they grow and prosper
alongside other enterprises
• General SMEs policy aiming at promoting
enterprises independently of their business
form or their objectives

3. Financial aspects
• Commission's recommendation to
Member states Governments to
include the promotion of Social
Economy Enterprises and Social
Innovation as a specific investment
priority in their new operational
programmes.

4. Support programmes
• - EU Programme COSME for the
Competitiveness of SMEs run by DG
ENTR and European Investment Bank.
• - Social entrepreneurs do not need
money alone but also training:
• EU Programme Erasmus for Young
Entrepreneurs

5. European Enterprise Awards
• European Enterprise Awards honour
initiatives by authorities or public/private
partnerships: promote efforts to boost
entr/neurship among disadvantaged groups
• Winner of first edition Commune of Rome
with its innovative project Autopromozione
Sociale . Support of 750 start-up companies
based on the values of fair trade, respect for
people and the environment.

6. Other measures
• - Statistical data about the role of
social economy enterprises in national
economies. Pilot projects in Bu, Est,
Lat, Rom, Ser, Be, Sp
• - Studies
• - Presidency Conferences

7. The European Statutes
• - Scope: Lack of recognition of these
forms of business in a number of MS
where they sometimes face activity-related
restrictions.
• - Problems related to employee
participation
• - Council: Voting by Unanimity

8. The Regulations
• - The European Cooperative
Regulation. Consultation. The
working group
• - Mutuals: Proposal
• - Foundations: Council
• - Associations non profit