Belgian EU Presidency kicks off with Social Economy event in Liège
The Belgian EU Presidency hosted the European Social Economy Meeting on 12-13 February in the city of Liège. Fully aware of the potential of the Social Economy, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has made it one of its priorities.
The three Belgian regions Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels joined forces to offer participants a great experience and insights into the social economy in Belgium. Over the two days, more than 500 representative of social economy organisations, policymakers, university professors, scientists, and other stakeholders discussed the role of the social economy in inclusive, green, and digital transitions, with the aim of building a more social and sustainable Europe. Philea and several members including Fundación ONCE and the King Baudouin Foundation actively contributed to the meeting, with Francoise Pissart, King Baudouin Foundation illustrating how foundations can contribute to the digital transformation.
In parallel to this event, it also hosted a Conference of European Ministers in charge of social economy concluding with a joint declaration. In this declaration, the European Ministers invite the Council of the European Union and the European Commission among other things to promote the social economy during the next European Commission 2024–2029, and to appoint one of the European Commissioners with full responsibility for the social economy and implement, by 2030, the Social Economy Action Plan.
The Liège gathering reflected the importance of two of the priorities announced by the Belgian Presidency in its programme:
- Pursuing a green and just transition
- Reinforcing the European Union’s social and health agenda
The latter includes the strengthening of social dialogue at all levels, and reinforcing the social dimension of the European Semester, promoting a framework conducive to the development of the social economy. The other priorities announced by the Belgian Presidency (which began on 1 January 2024 for a period of six months) are:
- Defending rule of law, democracy and unity, which also entails considerations on the Union’s enlargement, with the Presidency committed to supporting candidate countries in their efforts
- Strengthening the Union’s competitiveness, which involves ensuring a level playing field for businesses; a coherent, predictable and simplified regulatory framework; an enhanced role for research, development and innovation; and a focus on public and private investments
- Protecting people and borders, by addressing all remaining legislative files associated with the new European pact on migration and asylum
- Promoting a more global Europe, pursuing the efforts made by the EU to strengthen its resilience and autonomy and defend its interests and values, with openness, dialogue, and cooperation at the heart of the EU’s conception of its interests.
The Belgian Presidency is coming at a particularly crucial time, with Hungary as the next Member State to take the helm of the in July, and the European Commission and Parliament’s mandates coming to an end ahead of the next European elections in June. As such, there are a number of other issues which Philea and the philanthropic sector consider particularly important. These include:
- The need to address problems of shrinking civic space and erosion of democratic values, and a lack of structured participation of civil society on many issues. These topics have recently been the focus of the European Economic and Social Committee Opinion on strengthening civil dialogue and participatory democracy in the EU: a path forward, which was requested by the Belgian Presidency. Philea supports the EESC’s call to adopt a strategy for civil dialogue, giving life to an action plan, and an interinstitutional agreement that involves every level of the EU.
- The need to continue moving effectively on the legislative process on the Commission Proposal for a Directive on European Cross Border Associations which lays the grounds for civil society organisations to have their place in the single market and to also follow up on the Council recommendation for developing social economy framework conditions and its call to Member States to facilitate cross-border philanthropy.
Contact
