RREUSE reacts: The European Commission calls on Member States for better policies for social enterprises in the circular economy

RREUSE welcomes the European Commission (EC) ’s proposal for a Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions published June 13th, a flagship initiative of the Action Plan on the Social Economy (SEAP) aimed at encouraging EU Member States to create better-enabling environments for social enterprises and all social economy actors across pertinent policy areas.

Although not legally binding, RREUSE believes such a proposal represents an unequivocal message to all EU countries to ensure the characteristics and needs of social economy actors are well-reflected across policy areas including public procurement, state aid, taxation, skills, as well as circular interventions. 

‘The Commission’s new proposal is a milestone to ensure concrete measures across different policy areas in support of the social economy.  It is especially encouraging to see the clear message to Member States to include social economy entities involved in the circular economy, such as reuse and repair, in waste prevention strategies and give them access to re-useable goods and waste streams.

In a context where the social economy addresses some of the biggest challenges of our time, it is key for the Council not to diminish the level of ambition of the proposal.’

– Simone Schirru, Policy Officer in Social and Economic Policies – RREUSE