Activities of Patrizia TOIA related to 2021/2179(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU action plan for the social economy (debate)
Amendments (50)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in particular Article 27 on work and employment;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 17 February 2022 with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
— having regard to the European Economic and Social Committee' opinion of 22 September 2016 on 'The External Dimension of the Social Economy';
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the social economy encompasses diverse types of private entities, independent of public authorities, as cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations (including charities), foundations, social enterprises, and other legal forms, all characterised by different operating and organisational principles and features such as the primacy of people as well as social purpose over profit, the reinvestment of most profits/surpluses, and democratic or participatory governance;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the social economy has played an important role in mitigating and addressing the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the EU’s social market, society and economy and has driven and contributed to social and economic resilience thanks to theits long- term orientation of the European Pillar business model and the nature of social rights and the targets and activities of the social economy12 ; _________________ 12 OECD (2020), Social economy and the COVID-19 crisis: current and future roles.
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas social economy organisations have a long history in the majority of Member States, most of which have adopted specific laws in this field, and have established themselves as crucial market players; whereas regulatory frameworks must ensure that social economy enterprises can compete effectively in all economic sectors;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas social economy organisations strengthen the sense of community and social capital, especially at the local level;1a _________________ 1a https://www.oecd- ilibrary.org/docserver/e9eea313- en.pdf?expires=1643295376&id=id∾cna me=guest✓sum=BF1226E6C5CBB1858A 3F36DBF5F48577
Amendment 73 #
Cc. whereas the social economy contributes to a well-functioning welfare state as it focuses on social and labour needs; whereas, however, it is the State and public authorities at large which have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring universal and equal access of citizens to a high standard of welfare, and as such, social economy organisations should play a complementary role, not a replacement of, first-line, state/regional-based provisions;2a _________________ 2a European Economic and Social Committee Milan declaration, cited in the Council conclusions of 7 December 2015 on ‘The promotion of the social economy as a key driver of economic and social development in Europe’.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas social economy organisations operate in key sectors such as health, long-term care, pensions, education, culture, tech for good, housing, leisure and circular economy, renewable energy and waste management, and by virtue of their local anchoring and their social and integrative character, are an intrinsic part of the European social model;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas a legal and policy framework that adequately protects and promotes worker cooperative enterprises, a set of policy measures aimed at facilitating business transfers to employees and a high level of organisation and consolidation of worker cooperatives in organisations/federations contribute to successful business transfers to employees;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)
Recital C g (new)
Cg. whereas social economy organisations are perceived by investors as high risk due to the information asymmetries in the market or the investors’ limited understanding of this model;5a _________________ 5a European Commission, Directorate- General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Hayday, M., Varga, E., A recipe book for social finance : a practical guide on designing and implementing initiatives to develop social finance instruments and markets, Publications Office, 2017
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)
Recital C h (new)
C h. whereas social economy organisations and enterprises have traditionally played an important role in the employment and service provision for persons with disabilities, including through UNCRPD-abiding Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE);
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes, however, that concrete measures and follow-up measures for achieving each objective need to be laid out and the interlinkages between measures and other EU-level initiatives further detailed; considers it necessary to establish a calendar for all actions included in the SEAP, with a view to guiding the relevant authorities in the implementation;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its call13 for the ‘think small first’ principle to be set as a guiding principle in the drafting of future legislation and the adoption of policies, so as to make the Union’s ecosystem more competitive and supportive of micro, small and medium-sized organisations both within and outside the social economy and ensure that its role is strengthened to support the development of social economy; _________________ 13 In, inter alia, its resolution of 16 December 2020 on a new strategy for European SMEs and that of 24 June 2021 on European regulatory fitness and subsidiarity principle.
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reminds the Member States that the Public Procurement Directive (Directive 2014/24/EU) allows contracting authorities to use public procurement to pursue environmental and social objectives, and, in particular, allows for reserved tender procedures for organisations whose main aim is the integration of persons with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups into the workforce; invites public authorities to considerrecognise socially and environmentally responsible public procurement as an investment in the socio-economic fabric with a great potential to combine social and competitive objectives;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reminds the Member States that the Advisory Platform for Social Outcomes Contracting created by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group can provide expert advice and technical support to public sector organisations wishing to address key social inclusion challenges through outcomes-based approaches;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes existing initiatives in Member States to provide workers interested in the buyout process and cooperatives emerging from workers’ buyouts with legal counselling, financial support, support in the preparation of business plans, data needed for external investors and business support structures; encourages Member States to include this topic in the 2023 Council recommendations in order to further support these initiatives at regional and national level and to work closely with workers' representatives to support and link up with the federations of worker cooperatives in assisting workers’ buyouts ; also urges the Commission to keep on working closely with the Member States to identify tools and solutions to remove obstacles and speed up legal procedures to transfer the ownership of an enterprise after its closure to the employees through worker cooperatives or other forms of worker-owned social economy enterprises; invites the Member States to share and exchange best practices in this regard;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. highlights that social economy organisations have for decades been leaders in implementing circular business models, especially in reusing, repairing and recycling activities, thus accelerating the transition to the circular economy and reinforcing the focus on positive social impact;3a supports the Commission's initiative to strengthen the capacity of the social economy to further develop greener services and products; _________________ 3a OECD/European Union (2022), Policy brief on making the most of the Social Economy’s contribution to the Circular Economy
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission to encourage social impact investing and to assess existing measures to increase citizens’ participation in social impact finance initiatives with a view to increasing the funding of social economy entities and the visibility thereof;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Highlights the importance of attaching greater attention to social impact measurement and management methodologies and practices; calls on the European social economy stakeholders to carefully assess the development, together with the support of the Commission, of social impact measurement methodologies apt for the diversity of social economy organisations, as well as a strategy to further access and attract social investments;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Invites the European Commission to examine carefully together with social economy stakeholders and academics the feasibility and practicality of social impact bonds;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to set up capacity-building partnerships and formal agreements with social economy networks in order to provide social economy organisations with advisory services such as tailor-made mentoring and coaching, financing capacity-building, training and education, incubating services and networking for capacity-building; in this regard, brings to the attention of regional and local authorities committed to initiating or upgrading their capacity building measures for the social economy the Guidelines for Local Governments on Policies for Social and Solidarity Economy published by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in 2021;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to set up national, transnational and interregional capacity- building partnerships and formal agreements with social economy networks and their representative organisations in order to provide social economy organisations with advisory services such as tailor-made mentoring and coaching, financing capacity-building, training and education, incubating services and networking for capacity-building; welcomes concrete projects such as the European Business School on Social Economy promoted by the Smart specialisation platform partnership on social economy, formed by six European regions and supported by European Social Economy Networks;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the social economy stakeholders to fully align with the targets of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan by making sure that at least 60% of social economy employees and relevant public authorities' officials receive training every year by 2030;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to make sure that social economy organisations and enterprises comply with the relevant legislation against discrimination at work and ensure decent working conditions, fair remuneration and career growth perspectives;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights the key role that new technologies, if accessible to all, can play in developing and scaling up social economy projects and, as well as the importance of giving social economy entrepreneurs priorityenhanced access to training programmes on digital skills and advanced technologies, both at EU and national level, and calls on the Commission and Member States to explore how mainstream businesses and social economy organisations can cooperate in that regard;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the importance of strengthening the support to cooperatives in the field of digital transformation, access to finance, test-before-invest and training, capacity building; notes that the digital transition in the social economy should be encouraged, inter alia, through taxation, public procurement and state aid;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Highlights the distinctiveness of renewable energy cooperatives, as part of energy communities, in the energy system, as they promote sustainable energy production and consumption practices, strengthen community ownership and social innovation, generate widespread benefits and can be used to satisfy security of supply in remote locations and on certain islands;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Highlights the importance of strengthening the business planning, implementation and evaluation skills of social economy organisations by setting up a Social Economy and Proximity Skills Alliance; looks forward to the forthcoming “Pact for Skills for the Social Economy”;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines the importance of promoting the cooperative model among young people in various training systems; notes that workers' cooperatives can create quality jobs and boost youth entrepreneurship;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges the national, regional and local authorities to deepen their knowledge of existing rules regarding the possibility offered by services of general economic interest(SGEI) to access public finance support and to make the most of the margin of discretion in the definition and organisation of SGEI, while exploring the possibility of recognising social economy organisations as SGEI;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Welcomes the idea of launching a new initiative under the Single Market Programme 2022 to support the creation of partnerships between social economy entities and mainstream businesses, enabling a “buy social” business-to- business market;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Invites the Member States to promote the access of social economy organisations and enterprises to Next Generation EU funding, through the Recovery and Resilience national plans, in particular for the promotion of employment, socioeconomic inclusion and the adaptation to the digital and green transitions of disadvantaged groups, such as persons with disabilities;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Invites the Member Sates to exchange knowledge and experience on social economy entrepreneurship through the EU Mutual Learning Programme;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Highlights the importance of obtaining data and information on the challenges and experiences faced by the social economy in partner countries; regrets that non-EU social economy organisations are not always eligible for EU programmes; invites the Commission to explore how to overcome those barriers;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly welcomes the proposal of a Council recommendation on social economy framework conditions to be approved in 2023; believes that it should provide a common definition of the social economy based on its principles and features -as per the SEAP-, a definition that, taking into consideration the diversity of the social economy, applies to all policies, programmes and measures that the European Commission develops and operates for the social economy7a,as it would also ensure that support measures are granted to all social economy organisations and enterprises; notes that the Council Recommendation should serve as a compass to strengthen the social economy legal and policy frameworks, especially in Member States where the social economy ecosystem is less developed, and should clearly highlight the support instruments made available by the EU and provide guidance in relation to specific policies such as public procurement, employment and social policies, taxation, education, skills and training and the importance of linking the circular economy and the social economy agendas; _________________ 7a The approach to follow could be the one followed for the SME Recommendation.
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly welcomes the proposal of a Council recommendation on social economy framework conditions to be approved in 2023; believes that it should serve as a compass to strengthen the social economy legal and policy frameworks, especially in Member States where the social economy ecosystem is less developed, and should clearly highlight the support instruments made available by the EU and provide guidance in relation to specific policies such as public procurement, state aid, employment and social policies, taxation, education, social and care services, skills and training and the importance of linking the circular economy and the social economy agendas;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers it regrettable that Parliament’s past calls on the Commission to submit proposals allowing mutual societies, associations9a and foundations to act on a European and cross-border scale did not lead to any legislative changes, thus undermining the European social model and hindering the completion of the single market; suggests, in view of the window of opportunity opened by the SEAP, as well as the activities of the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration, which comprises a majority of Member States, that enhanced cooperation be explored as a tool to overcome the aforementioned decades-long deadlocks; _________________ 9a Resolution on non-profit making associations in the European Communities of 13 April 1987
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Supports the setting up of national competence centres for social innovation aimed at social economy entrepreneurs, as well as a European competence centre for social innovation; looks forward to the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy to be developed together with the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development; calls on social economy organisations to support the emergence of Youth Social Economy Entrepreneurs; believes, however, that the Commission, together with the Member States, should launch targeted initiatives to help other social economy entrepreneurs from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission to update the 2012 Study on the current situation and prospects of mutuals in Europe to identify opportunities and barriers for their development in Europe, particularly in healthcare and insurance;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the announced launch of a new study to collect qualitative and quantitative information on the social economy across all Member States; notes that detailed, standardised, comparable and reliable data on the scale and impact of the social economy need to be generated with a view to facilitating evidence-based policy decisions, future-proofing the development of the social economy and contributing to EU economic and social goals; reminds the Member States of the 2015 Council conclusions’ invitation for national statistical authorities to develop and implement social economy satellite accounts;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Welcomes the Commission’s work on a transition pathway for the social economy and proximity industrial ecosystems; notes, however, that additional information is required to explain how such a pathway will be implemented on the ground and how it will interact with other regional and local initiatives;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Urges the Commission and the European External Action Service to provide information and training on the social economy to the staff working in EU delegations and to increase the visibility thereof in EU external action;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Calls on the Commission to promote the social economy in the external dimension of EU policies, inter alia, by acknowledging and including its specific nature in future association agreements and the revision of the current ones, and by assessing how it can contribute to its development outside EU borders;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Member States to designate social economy coordinators and to set up local social economy contact points with a view to facilitating access to funding, including EU funding; invites the Commission and the social economy organisations to also use the announced Social Economy Gateway to raise awareness of the funding opportunities at EU level; calls on the Member States to properly and effectively implement the SEAP in collaboration with the social economy stakeholders;
Amendment 320 #
19a. Reiterates Parliament’s support to the fact that the components of the social economy should be recognised in the EU sectoral and inter-sectoral social dialogue and suggests that the process should be encouraged by both the Member States and the Commission9a; and calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the mechanisms and instruments to support the European, national and regional representative organisations of the social economy as they are crucial for the creation of favourable ecosystems for the social economy; _________________ 9a European Parliament Resolution of 19 February 2009 on Social Economy
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to set up an implementation taskforce for the SEAP, which regularly reports to the European Parliament, the Council and the relevant stakeholders, and to disseminate its composition and timeline for action;