1. The European Economic and Social Commitee
Co-spokespersons : Coheur Alain – Balon Krzysztof

2. EESC Social Economy Category
10 – a.m.
Welcome and introduction by the Co-Spokespersons
Review of the activities of the Category in 2015 – report presented to the EESC Bureau 
10.30 – a.m.   
11.15 – a.m.
11.45 a.m. – p.m.
Discussion on the main priorities for the Category and its Work Programme for 2016:
Exchange of views on cooperation with the EESC Permanent Study Group on Social Economy Enterprises:
Mr Oliver Röpke (Group II), President of the EESC Permanent Study Group on Social Economy Enterprises
Q & As
Promoting the Social Economy throughout Europe
Ms Marie J. Bouchard, Editor of 'The Weight of the Social Economy'- presentation on The Weight, Size and Scope of the Social Economy in Europe

3. Social Economy Introduction The Social Economy in the EU Arena
European Economic and Social Committee
Social Economy Category
EU Presidency
PSG. SEE
Social Economy
European
Commission
European Council
European Parliament
IG SE
GECES

4. The Social Economy at the European Parliament
OBJECTIVES
Ensure a better follow-up and that greater account is taken of the social economy in the Opinions adopted by the Committees of the EP
Promote exchanges of views on European policies relating to the Social Economy
Provide opportunities for dialogue between the Members of the EP, social economy actors and the EC
Ensure the relay of the preoccupations of the social economy to the various Political Groups
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2015
April : Integrate the social economy in European policies
June : The financing of social economy enterprises
September : A legal framework for social economy enterprises and organisations
2016
January : The social economy as a creator of quality jobs
March : Public markets: reinvigorating partnerships between the social economy and public authorities
June : The European Financial Institutions of the social economy: financing the real economy
EESC : Observer Member of the Bureau of the Intergroup of the EP

5. The Social Economy at the EC Group of Experts of the Committee on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES)
Since 2015, period of Bienkowska
Renewal of the Members of GECES :
Creation of 4 working groups: 
- Improving access to financing
- Increasing the visibility of social entrepreneurship
- Improving the legal environment
- Reinforcing the exernal dimension
=> 1st draft presented on 30 June
=> Recommandations for concrete actions by the end of 2016.
Between 2011 and 2014, period of Barnier
Social Business Initiative (SBI)
The EC put the social economy on the European agenda! The response to the economic crisis is given by :
- Social entrepreneurship
- Social innovation & social entrepreneurship
- The involvement of social in private capital, given the disengagement of the public sector
- An interest of enterprises in social activities via CSR
The creation of GECES
Principal challenge : action plan for the social economy in the action programme for the Internal Market in 2017.
Several EESC Members belong to GECES

6. The Social Economy at the Council
An important role for the Presidencies
- Italian Presidency: Rome Strategy (Nov. 2014)
- Luxembourg Presidency : Conclusions of the Council (7 Dec. 2015)
The promotion of the social economy as a key drive of economic and social development in Europe
=> focussing on economic enterprises and not only on social entrepreneurship and social enterprises

7. Review of the activities of the category in 2015
Two principal achievements to which the Category indirectly contributed :
The adoption of the conclusions of the EPSCO Council of 7 December on 'The Promotion of the Social Economy as a Key Driver of Economic and Social Development in Europe' (specific reference to the EESC in point 13);
The adoption of the Roadmap 'Towards a More Comprehensive Ecosystem for Social Economy Enterprises' on 4 December and signed by representatives of the governments of France, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
The Category members have participated in many events representing the Category.

8. Discussion of the main priorities and its Work programme for 2016
Mainstreaming of the social economy in EESC Opinions
European Parliament’s Cooperation with the Social Economy Intergroup
Cooperation with other EESC bodies
Report on “The social economy in the European Union 2017”
Promoting the social economy enterprise model all over Europe
An EU inter-institutional meeting: Towards a common EU understanding of the social economy
The development of the social economy at the international level

9. Permanent Study Group on Social Economy Enterprises
Exchange of views on cooperation with the EESC Permanent Study on Social Economy Enterprises Mr Oliver Röpke, President
Permanent Study Group on Social Economy Enterprises
(created by the decision of the Bureau in September 2015)
Objectives : Contribute to the development of a policy on social enterprises and to its heightened visibility:
Opinion => Social innovation as a new model for economic development
=> Collaborative economy (ongoing)
1st July : European Day of Social Economy Enterprises
European Year of Social Economy Enterprises

10. Promoting the Social Economy throughout Europe Ms Marie Bouchard « The Weight of the Social Economy »