The European Commission has published the mid-term review of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP), setting out the next steps to strengthen the EU’s social economy.

The updated plan moves from a strategic to a more operational roadmap for the coming years and highlights key priorities to support social economy organisations, including those providing services for people with disabilities.

Why is the SEAP important?

Across the EU, more than 4.3 million social economy organisations employ around 11.5 million people while contributing to key social and environmental goals.

The Social Economy Action Plan was launched by the European Commission in 2021, aiming to create a supportive ecosystem for such organisations. They include cooperatives, associations, foundations, social enterprises and many non-profit service providers.

For EASPD members, the SEAP is particularly relevant because it recognises the essential role of social economy organisations in the economy, in delivering social and care services, and supporting community-based services. Many EASPD members operate within the social economy and rely on enabling policy frameworks, access to finance, and supportive public procurement and state aid rules to deliver high-quality services.

Key changes in the updated plan

The mid-term review follows a period of consultations with social economy organisations, networks, Member States, EU institutions, and others. EASPD contributed to these discussions and highlighted, among other points, the importance of improving access to finance, making better use of socially responsible public procurement and ensuring EU rules support inclusive employment and quality services.

The reviewed plan reflects many of the EASPD’s recommendations, while focusing on what worked and aiming at a stronger implementation in the future. The Commission has organised the next phase  around five key action areas:

• Strengthening multilevel governance and implementation on the ground, with more support for Member States and regional authorities to implement social economy policies on the ground;
• Making rules and frameworks work better, including improving the use of public procurement, state aid, enabling tax conditions, and other regulatory tools;
• Reinforcing the social investment ecosystem, aiming to mobilise both public and private finances for social economy organisations;
• Scaling up skills, training and entrepreneurship, recognising the sector’s role in job creation and skills development;
• Building the social economy evidence base, improving data and knowledge on the social economy to support better policymaking.

The updated SEAP presents the opportunity to improve possibilities for disability service providers and other social economy actors. Areas such as public procurement, State Aid, and skills development are particularly relevant for organisations delivering disability services and promoting the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities.

EASPD will continue to engage with EU institutions, its members and partners to ensure that the implementation of the SEAP supports high-quality, person-centred, and community-based services and inclusive labour markets across Europe.

Learn more: SEAP mid-term review - EU Social Economy Gateway - European Commission