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  • 29-03-2021 18:47

EU/Presidency: Government commits to promoting social economy across Europe

EU/Presidency: Government commits to promoting social economy across Europe

Lisbon, March 29, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's minister of labour, solidarity and social security, Ana Mendes Godinho, committed on Monday to promote the social economy, congratulating the innovative initiative of the Portuguese Cities Network European Capital of Social Economy 2021.

Speaking at the opening session of a virtual conference on "The role of the Social Economy in job creation and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights", from Queluz Palace, Sintra, Godinho started by underlining how this is a year of so many challenges, in which Portugal takes on not only the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) but also the presidency of the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration, composed of 18 EU countries committed to the social economy.

In this context, it falls to Portugal to nominate the European Capital of Social Economy for 2021, a status that, for the first time, is shared by five cities - Braga, Cascais, Coimbra, Sintra and Torres Vedras - selected by the António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy (CASES).

Godinho congratulated this innovative initiative that showed the centrality of local dynamics in searching for answers and concrete solutions to the daily problems of the populations, and the social economy as a sector that has massively contributed to inclusive and sustainable development".

The social economy can be defined as the sector that brings together economic activities that do not aim solely at a profit. Although they are of a private nature, they share objectives with the public sector.

We clearly affirm our national and European commitment to promoting the social economy as a decisive factor of progress in economic and social terms for all, she stressed, adding that the social economy was clearly an active agent of inclusion in the world of work, inclusion in society and the fight against inequalities.

The minister recalled that social economy is part of the action plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights, constituting one of the key instruments for the implementation of this plan, which will be discussed at the Porto Social Summit, on 7 and 8 May, under the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council.

Godinho said the deepening of the social model of Europe appeared, at this moment, as the most contemporary and necessary need, so Social Europe would be the guarantee that no one, from Lisbon to Bucharest, from Helsinki to Athens, could be left behind at the moment we live in".

The pandemic immediately showed the great capacity of the social economy to be a motor for job creation at a time of crisis, she said, evoking the Mareess programme - Support Measures for Emergency Reinforcement of Social and Health Equipment, in which 17,500 people were hired in a few months, with huge demand,

The government, therefore, needed to extend this programme until the end of 2021, with the social economy assuming here a great capacity to respond to unemployment in this time of crisis.

The pandemic also showed the need to value those who work in the social economy and to qualify these workers, she said, pointing out that the "Valorizar Social" programme would be launched, which aims to value those who work in the social economy, assuming a need for the empowerment of people so that they are increasingly valued.

"This is why the Social Economy Cities Network, created here today for the first time, showed exactly this great ability to work together, without walls or battlements, to reach further and more people, she stressed.

Godinho also took the opportunity to announce a network of social innovation and 'co-working' spaces using Inatel's network of spaces throughout the country, placing them at the service of social economy and social innovation.

BYC/ADB // ADB.

Lusa