Social economy in Europe: New frontiers for a sustainable future

November 2024

In an era marked by economic uncertainty, environmental challenges, and social inequality, the social economy has emerged as a vital force for positive change across Europe. It represents a sector that prioritises people over profit, addressing unmet societal needs through innovative, democratic, and solidarity-driven initiatives.

The social economy has increasingly gained recognition as a crucial component of Europe’s socio-economic landscape. At the same time, there are still very diverse understandings and ongoing discussions on how to further strengthen it.

What is the social economy?

The social economy is a socio-economic ecosystem that encompasses a wide variety of organisations driven by values of solidarity, inclusiveness, and democracy. Unlike profit-driven businesses, social economy entities aim to benefit their members or society at large by pursuing social, environmental, or community-oriented goals.