Social entrepreneurship: Maintain momentum beyond European elections

From Strasbourg

The Strasbourg Declaration has pointed towards a new perspective for social businesses in Europe -  however, there is much to be done to support the social business model.

“There is no difference between businesses and social businesses, and there shouldn’t be! There shouldn’t be a ghetto for social entrepreneurs, looking for funds, filling out forms," Economic and Social Committe President Henri Malosse (pictured) told EU Reporter.

“Europe can no longer permit itself to miss its target. Its core business is – should be – active solidarity and strong common policies, namely in the fields of industry, energy and entrepreneurship, especially social entrepreneurship. There should be a self-sustainable model we can find in co-operation with social entrepreneurs," Malosse added.

There should be equal opportunities to choose between social models, but social entrepreneurs are not on equal terms, because they are not always understood. They are aiming to find a solution to a social problem, but not to maximize profits. Any profits generated are reinvested in the same social aim, not for shareholders. They have a social mission - to include people in socially valuable activity.

There are different social models in Europe,  so social businesses have to operate in different environments, but the recent conference showed that there is a lot in common between all EU countries:  financing remains the biggest barrier for social entrepreneurs all over the EU.

‘There are finance programmes available, but they are not suitable for us, we can’t access them, because they are not regular, commercial activity. Even in my own country, Sweden, social entrepreneurs don’t have access to all society resources. We need to find a solution," EESC member Ariane Rodert told EU Reporter.

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"There should be a specific financial tool to support the social entrepreneurship sector," Rodert continued. "The context of the European elections represents momentum for social business, but the question remains how to  maintain it beyond the elections. The Economic and Social Committee will be launching a follow-up programme with events."

"We need to go further than a Declaration, we have to keep on discussing the details," Rodert added. "The expectations of socials entrepreneur is that Europe will have a continuous agenda on the issue. The commissioners have also confirmed that following the Strasbourg Declaration a lot of work should be done."

Young social entrepreneurs should seek help from the civil society, Rodert believes, because there is the will to share and provide support. Rodert underlined that this type of undertaking is not so much about competition, but about sharing the 'good idea model'.

In Sweden, considered to be one of leading countries as far as social entrepreneurship is concerned, there are intermediate structures who could advise young entrepreneurs. Such structures are not identified in all EU countries yet, but they have to be identified, to support the emerging entrepreneurs, - parallel work, as intermediates are crucial for the course.

"Otherwise, social entrepreneurs are pushed away into a traditional business model and they lose the idea, the values of social undertaking," Rodert concluded.

At the moment there more than 11 million  jobs in social enterprises in Europe, according to European Commission data.

Anna van Densky

 

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