In late 2024, the European Commission released a report reviewing the progress of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan (2020–2025), a landmark framework designed to tackle racial and ethnic discrimination across the Union. Adopted in 2020, the Action Plan called for concrete steps to promote equality, pluralism, and inclusion in Member States. Four years on, the report acknowledges some improvement but warns that deep-rooted disparities remain. Over 61% of Europeans still perceive racial discrimination as widespread, while only a fraction of those affected report incidents. Discrimination continues to impact employment, education, housing, and healthcare—particularly for vulnerable groups such as migrants and Roma.

While 11 Member States have adopted national action plans against racism, questions linger over the level of community involvement in shaping these policies. Many marginalised groups face barriers in accessing support and distrust in public institutions, underlining the need for local mediators and community-based approaches.

This is where the social economy can play a transformative role. Social economy organisations are grounded in values of solidarity, democratic governance, and inclusivity. Their people-first approach, community embeddedness, and track record in employment and empowerment initiatives make them ideal partners in fighting systemic racism. These organisations can bridge the gap between EU institutions and marginalised communities by enabling inclusive dialogue, co-designing interventions, and gathering on-the-ground data to inform policy.

The work of Diesis Network exemplifies the social economy’s impact.  

Through projects like LABOUR-INT 2, MEDICI, RIDE, and ROMANSE, Diesis has supported the labour inclusion of vulnerable migrant and Roma populations, especially women. These efforts include IT training, entrepreneurship support, and EU-wide capacity-building to promote integration and tackle discrimination in the job market.

To ensure real progress, the Commission calls for a multi-level participatory approach. This includes working with the EU’s dedicated Coordinator on combating racism and engaging with civil society through the Permanent Anti-Racism Civil Society Forum. However, the report stresses that more must be done to create inclusive civic spaces and foster active community participation in decision-making.

Ultimately, building a Union of Equality requires more than policy frameworks—it needs committed actors capable of translating these ambitions into action. Social economy organisations, with their rootedness in community needs and drive for social justice, are essential allies in this process. Their deeper involvement would not only support anti-racism objectives but also align with the EU Social Economy Action Plan and contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic growth.