Social Services Europe (SSE), of which Eurodiaconia is a member, released a joint statement directed at the Ministers responsible for the Social Economy prior to their meeting on the 17th of February in Paris. SSE calls on the Ministers, to commit to the Social Economy Action Plan, engage with relevant stakeholders at the national level, and express this commitment as an outcome of their meeting.
The statement recognizes the concrete role social services play in the national social protection systems as SSE represents 200,000 not-for-profit social and health care organizations, employing over 11 million people across the EU. Moreover, these figures demonstrate that the social service sector accounts for more than one third of the 13.8 million jobs in the social economy. As such, SSE identifies six key demands relevant to the Member States competencies, and their role as partners in the implementation process of the Action Plan.
These demands include the recognition of the social services sector as a crucial part of the social economy through improved partnerships between government authorities and social service providers, direct investment in digital and green transitions, the support of a European Care Strategy which echos the care sector’s essential role and a social dialogue platform to address challenges unique to social service providers. Last, SSE requests the Ministers support the proposal for the Council Recommendations on developing social economy framework conditions, adapting state aid rules and promoting socially responsible public procurement as a “best practice” when relevant.
To access SSE’s statement for the informal Ministerial Meeting, click here.
The initial statement of SSE, on the Social Economy Action Plan, can be located here.