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A Map of Social Enterprises and Their Eco-Systems in Europe

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A Map of Social Enterprises and Their Eco-Systems in Europe A map of social enterprises and their eco-systems in Europe Country Report: Italy European Commission Country Report: Italy This report provides a non-exhaustive overview of the social enterprise landscape in Italy based on available information as of August 2014. Although a range of stakeholders were interviewed to verify, update and supplement the information collected from secondary sources, it was not possible to consult all relevant stakeholders within the constraints of the study. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. The rights relating to this study and those pertaining to its duplication and publication will remain the property of the European Commission. Any document based, in full or in part, on the work completed under this contract, may only be transmitted or published with European Commission's permission. A report submitted by ICF Consulting Services Date: 31 October 2014 Charu Wilkinson Lead Managing Consultant +44 (0)782 794 6021 [email protected] ICF Consulting Services Limited Watling House 33 Cannon Street London EC4M 5SB T +44 (0)20 3096 4800 F +44 (0)20 3368 6960 www.icfi.com © European Union, 2014 Country Report: Italy Document Control Document Title A map of social enterprises and their eco-systems in Europe Prepared by Stefania Chirico (ICF), Paolo Venturi (country expert), Roberto Randazzo and Giuseppe Taffari (legal experts) Checked by Charu Wilkinson Country Report: Italy Contents Headline summary ............................................................................................................. i 1 Concepts and ideas of social enterprise in Italy .....................................................1 2 The ecosystem for social enterprise in Italy ...........................................................4 2.1 The policy and legal framework for social enterprises ............................................................. 4 2.2 Public support schemes targeting social enterprises ............................................................... 5 2.3 Other specialist support and infrastructure available to social enterprises .............................. 8 2.4 Networks and mutual support mechanisms ............................................................................. 9 2.5 Marks, labels and certification schemes .................................................................................. 9 2.6 Social investment markets ..................................................................................................... 11 2.7 Overview of the key actors in the social enterprise ecosystem ............................................. 15 3 Mapping of social enterprise in Italy ................................................................... 17 3.1 The spectrum of social enterprise in Italy .............................................................................. 17 3.2 Application of operational definition: determining the boundaries ......................................... 17 3.3 Measurement of social enterprises ........................................................................................ 19 3.4 Characteristics of social enterprises ...................................................................................... 23 3.5 Summary of mapping results ................................................................................................. 26 3.6 Opportunities and barriers ..................................................................................................... 29 3.7 Future perspectives ................................................................................................................ 29 Annex 1 Comparative overview of the legislative framework for social cooperatives and social enterprises ex lege ..................................................................... 32 Annex 2 List of Information sources ...................................................................... 38 Annex 3 Examples of support initiatives ................................................................ 46 Country Report: Italy Headline summary Definition(s) and concepts The term social enterprise was first used in Italy in the 1980s. The term referred to the innovative private initiatives established by volunteer groups with the aim of delivering social services or facilitating the integration of disadvantaged people in the labour market. These initiatives were initially set up using existing non-profit legal forms, but obtained their own distinct legal identity when the Act on Social Cooperatives was passed in 1991 (Law no. 381/1991). In order to promote pluralism in the production of social utility goods and services and a diversification of sectors of activity, a legal category of ‘social enterprise’ was introduced in 2005 with the adoption of the Law on Social Enterprises (Law no. 155/2006). Despite there being a legal framework for social enterprise, research centres, public bodies and academics often refer to different ‘constructs’ when talking about social enterprise: in some cases, reference is made only or mainly to social cooperatives, while in other cases the concept of social enterprise covers a wider range of organisations operating in the non-profit sector. Policy and legal framework There are two main policy areas at a national level which support the development of the non-profit sector, including social enterprises: (i) active labour market policies and (ii) social inclusion policies. Interventions in these areas include the introduction of a favourable legal framework and fiscal treatment for organisations pursuing a social aim. Italy is one of the few countries with a law on social cooperatives (legal form) as well as a law on social enterprises (legal status): . The Law on Social Cooperatives (1991) created a new form of cooperatives. In contrast to traditional co-operatives who are primarily oriented towards serving the interest of their members, social cooperatives pursue social or general interest aims. The law distinguishes between social cooperatives providing social, health and educational services (defined by law as type A social cooperatives) and social cooperatives integrating disadvantaged persons into jobs (type B social cooperatives). The Law on Social Enterprises (2006) provides a legal definition of social enterprise and specifies the criteria that an organisation must comply with in order to be legally recognised as a social enterprise. It does not create a new legal form, but a legal status or ‘label’ which all eligible organisations can obtain regardless of their ownership or organisational structure. Eligible organisations could in theory be traditional cooperatives, social cooperatives, investor- owned firms (i.e. share companies) or traditional non-profit firms (i.e. associations and foundations). Public support and initiatives Italy has a relatively rich, well developed and diverse ecosystem for social enterprises as compared to other European countries. Several public support measures and initiatives have been developed by authorities at local level (provinces and regions) and national level. Networks and mutual support mechanisms Networks and mutual support mechanisms are well established in Italy. Social cooperatives often group together in local consortia to be effective in the market place. The consortia are in turn linked together in national federative bodies. Marks, labels and certification systems There are no marks, labelling schemes or certification systems for social enterprises in Italy. There are, however, systems for social reporting which are specifically targeted at social enterprises ex lege and social cooperatives. i Country Report: Italy Social investment markets Italian social cooperatives and social enterprises ex lege rely largely on their own financial resources. Recent developments of the Italian ecosystem include the availability of specialist support and infrastructure for social enterprises and a growing social investment market. Spectrum of social enterprise There are two legally recognised forms of social enterprise: social cooperatives and social enterprises ex lege. These legally recognised and therefore institutionalised forms of social enterprise do not capture the de facto universe of social enterprises in Italy which also includes: . Non-profit organisations pursuing social aims and oriented towards productive activities; and . Other organisations (e.g. traditional cooperatives and mainstream enterprises) which perform activities of production and/or exchange of goods and services of social utility while pursuing objectives of general interest. Scale and characteristics It is estimated that there are roughly 35,000 social enterprises in Italy that fully meet the criteria laid out by the EU operational definition, representing 0.8 per cent of the total business population. Social cooperatives and social enterprises ex lege capture only a third of Italy’s estimated social enterprise population. Additionally, organisations demonstrating the characteristics of social enterprises can be found among associations, foundations, cooperatives and mainstream enterprises. Social cooperatives are the most important
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