The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called for reforms to the European Union’s state aid rules to better accommodate social economy entities. Recognising the critical role these organisations play in addressing societal challenges, the EESC emphasises the need for public support that aligns with EU regulations.    

In its recent opinion, the EESC highlights the importance of adapting internal market and competition rules to acknowledge the unique characteristics of social economy enterprises. Such reforms aim to improve access to loans and financing, thereby enhancing their capacity to serve the common good.  

The EESC also underscores the necessity of reconciling robust public support for these entities which often perform functions previously managed by the state with existing EU state aid regulations. This approach seeks to ensure that social economy entities can continue to provide concrete responses to the social needs of Europeans.    

This initiative reflects a broader commitment to preserving the European social model, as highlighted in recent discussions on the future of European competitiveness. The EESC’s recommendations now await consideration by other EU institutions.  

More details on the discussions and key takeaways can be found on EESC’s official website.