Brussels, 06/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Social Economy Europe, the Socialist Group at the European Parliament and the members of the EP Intergroup on Social Economy are holding, from 13 to 16 May in Brussels, a social economy week on the theme: “Social Economy Europe: a key player for Europe”.
During this week, it will be possible to visit the EP building's 3rd floor (ASP) exhibition on the theme “Social Economy in Europe: a different approach to entrepreneurship, towards more solidarity”. On Wednesday 14 May, the EP Social Economy Intergroup will meet from 12h30 to 14h00. On Thursday 15 May, the EP Socialist group will meet for a conference on “the social economy driving economic growth and social cohesion”, with participation by MEPs Harlem Désir and Anne Ferreira (France); Stephen Hughes (UK) and Joel Hasse-Ferreira (Portugal). On Friday 16 May, the REVES network (regions and towns of the social economy) of the Committee of the Regions is holding a conference on the theme: “a key factor of success in promoting social cohesion: the contribution of partnerships between local authorities and organisations of general interest”.
Social Economy Europe is essentially made up of insurance cooperatives and mutual insurers and assimilated bodies. The social economy represents 10% of all European businesses, which means 2 million businesses employing over 20 million workers, i.e. 10% of all jobs. (G.B.)