SCALING UP SOCIAL ECONOMY ENTERPRISES IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE Conclusions and impressions from the regional conference organised by the Republic of Slovenia in collaboration with European Commission, partner countries and organisations, held on 24th and 25th April 2017 at Brdo Congress Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia | 3 The challenge: rewarding Table of contents entrepreneurs for their 3 Foreword to Scaling up Social Economy Foreword to Scaling up Social contribution to social gains Enterprises in SEE Societies which have recognised the social 6 The opening of the agenda Economy Enterprises in SEE impact of entrepreneurship and put mechanisms in place that encourage and reward the socially 8 Innovation for societal impact in practice desirable consequences of their commercial 12 Social impact investing in social economy reaching a comparable level of other EU countries activity perform better in terms of social cohesion enterprises from the existing level of 0.7% jobs created in this and quality of life. Social entrepreneurs have sector and 1% of GDP, to 6.5% jobs in that sector 16 The project proposal “SIMI - Social Impact traditionally been the ones able to cushion and 7% of GDP, today’s average in the EU28. Migrants Investing in Social Enterprises” uncertainty and the undesirable effects on our societies caused by particular interests, a lack of 18 The social economy in South-Eastern From the beginning of the implementation of the resources, social imbalances and market failures. Europe is ready for take-off project in 2014, Slovenia has made substantial Moreover, they have been a much-needed 22 Towards a stronger and more structured steps towards better visibility and recognition of interface between new ideas, with social impact social economy enterprises and the importance cooperation between the EU and SEE Tadej Slapnik on the one hand and their implementation, of the social economy for the whole of society, 24 The three ways Slovenia is setting State Secretary commercialisation and scaling on the other. Today, and the number of social enterprises has an example for the whole of Europe: in Office of the they are becoming the undergrowth of new Prime Minister increased by 300 percentage points. Strong The Ljubljana Declaration, the SIMI project forms of collaboration, innovation and new job of Slovenia evidence shows the increased awareness of and Tekstilnica creation, and even new forms of work, creative people, both young and old, that the social and industrial relationships. It has become clear Dear Colleagues, economy is a very relevant area for job creation that social enterprises as such, and many forms or for social inclusion. Social innovations are It is my pleasure to write a Foreword to this of collaboration and design for social innovation, becoming mainstream in many areas and an Impressum journey through the Conference SEE2: Scaling represent a valuable transforming canvas in the indispensable part of technological and non- up Social Economy Enterprises in South-Eastern process of shaping modern societies. SCALING UP SOCIAL ECONOMY ENTERPRISES IN SOUTH technological innovations. Facing the challenges Europe. The social economy is becoming more This publication is a result of the contributions EAST EUROPE is a publication produced by Javni zavod za of modern society, developing together with spodbujanje podjetništva in razvojne projekte Občine Izola. and more important in national economies, and and outcomes of a Conference entitled: SEE2: the digital transformation of society, the social This publication resembles the outcomes of the international EU Member States and the countries from the Scaling Up Social Economy Enterprises in South- economy is becoming more a recognisable conference »Scaling Up Social Economy Entreprises in South region of South-Eastern Europe recognise it as Eastern Europe, convened at Brdo Estate in East Europe«, which was organised by the Goverment of the sector, ensuring long term sustainable jobs and one of the most important partners of national April 2017 and focused on the development of Republic of Slovenia and related partners in Brdo pri Kranju inclusive social cohesion. on 24th and 25th April 2017. economies. social entrepreneurship in the region of South- President of the Organising Committee: Eastern Europe. Organised by Slovenia, the Tadej Slapnik, State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, In building a stable and robust social economy Speaking for Slovenia, the importance of European Commission and partner countries and Gregorčičeva ulica 25, 1000 Ljubljana ecosystem, we can focus on the main objectives E: [email protected], T: + 386 31 348 930 the social economy was recognised by the organisations, the conference also sought to form and concentrate on implementing activities in Organisational Partner: JZP Izola Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which a mid-term plan to stimulate the development of four areas, which we will develop even more President of the organisational board: ranked it of high priority in government strategic the social economy in the region, and encourage Iztok Škerlič, managing director, JZP Izola, Sončno nabrežje 4, in the future: social innovation, young people, projects, following its goal for the next 10 years of the passage from social enterprise to platforms 6310 Izola, E: [email protected], T: +386 5 66 00 260 local job creation and sustainable development. of social innovation which contribute to the future The conference was partly co-financed by the project This would also go hand in hand with the United “Additional support to the Governance of the EUSAIR- Facility of work and collaboration. One such platform Point Plus” funding from the European Union” and “Strategic Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030, is decisively the SIMI project (Social Impact project »FACILITY POINT – Supporting the governance of The full congress centre Brdo pri Kranju Migrants Investing in social enterprises) intended the EUSAIR« is funded under the INTERREG V -B Adriatic- during the opening of the conference Ionian Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 by the European for the Adriatic and Ionian region (EUSAIR). Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Instrument for Pre- There are noticeable entrepreneurial and Accession Assistance (IPA II) and national funds”. innovative dynamics, and important steps have Content, editing, publishing and production: been made in several EU countries in terms of Giacomelli Media Management and Consulting Ltd, Kersnikova the modernisation of the legal and regulatory ulica 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia framework. One common lesson for all is that Autors: Niko Korpar and moderators and speakers at the Conference social enterprise, defined by its purpose and Photography: Taja Košir Popovič and Barbara Reya organisational form – and in its many legal forms Design and layout: Vlado Trifkovič – should by no means be marginalised. Regulators Edited by: Jurij Giacomelli should therefore reward entrepreneurs for their Copyright: Giacomelli Media Ltd, 2017 social impact and their specific contribution to social gains, regardless of their form of The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official incorporation. That remains a significant opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union challenge, not only in South-Eastern Europe. institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of Jurij Giacomelli, Editor the information contained therein. 4 | FOREWORD TO SCALING UP SOCIAL ECONOMY ENTERPRISES IN SEE FOREWORD TO SCALING UP SOCIAL ECONOMY ENTERPRISES IN SEE | 5 which connect closely to innovative business In many areas social economy enterprises can models of social economy enterprises. With act as a driver for economic growth if supported the help of the GECES general report, we can by appropriate projects, programmes and develop even stronger support for the social financing. To make a step towards overcoming economy in our countries and at the EU level. the differences between the EU Member States and countries from the region of South-Eastern On the other hand, social economy enterprises Europe, arising from the different position of can provide an appropriate response to specific countries with regard to the rules stakeholders questions, which today represent a challenge to are facing in different European supporting the citizens of the European Union as well of the programmes, the Ljubljana Declaration – Scaling countries of South-Eastern Europe. These are up Social Economy Enterprises – towards the questions of mass migration which we faced stronger and more structured cooperation in 2015. Social economy enterprises can act as between the EU and South-Eastern Europe, State Secretary Tadej Slapnik welcoming Goran Jeras, Association of Slovenian Forum for Social Entrepreneurship, important players in the facilitation of migrants was adopted between the Governments of Manager of the Cooperative for ethical financing, Croatia to represented by Mojca Žganec Metelko, thanked the Prime and refugees in their transit or their integration Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conference Minister dr. Miro Cerar with a plaquette for recognizing into the community. Social economy enterprises Montenegro, Kosovo,* Albania and Luxembourg. the importance of social economy for the future development should be therefore embedded in all relevant of Slovenia European initiatives and