EUSES 2021: a European crossroads for social economy

EUSES 2021: un carrefour européen pour l'économie sociale

par | 27 Mai 2021 | Actualités de SOGA

EUSES 2021: un carrefour européen pour l'économie sociale 

Pendant deux jours, de nombreux acteurs et actrices de l’économie sociale sont venus se rencontrer en ligne lors du premier sommet européen qui portait exclusivement sur ce sujet. Plus de 5000 participants et participantes sont venus assister à cet évènement pionnier, diffusé depuis la ville rhénane de Mannheim. L’occasion a été aussi pour de nombreuses organisations de présenter leurs projets ambitieux et innovants, aux quatre coins du continent. Le Social Good Accelerator en faisait partie, notamment pour présenter nos nouveaux chantiers.

Le Social Good Accelerator était de la partie, notamment pour présenter ses nouveaux projets.

mannheim presentators
Les deux présentateurs du EUSES, le 27 mai 2021
Source: EUSES, Stadt Mannheim (screenshot)

L’évènement était attendu depuis plusieurs mois, reporté en raison du contexte sanitaire. La présidence allemande du Conseil de l’UE a fait le choix de le tenir dans la ville de Mannheim, qui s’est vue chargée de l’organisation de ce sommet de taille.
D'importantes personnalités européennes ont été invitées à s'exprimer à cette occasion, telles que Mme Manon Aubry et M. Sven Giegold (membres de l'Intergroupe parlementaire sur l'économie sociale), Mme Jeanne Barseghian (maire de Strasbourg), M. Thierry Breton (Commissaire au Marché intérieur) et surtout M. Nicolas Schmit (Commissaire à l'Emploi et aux Droits sociaux). Le sommet a permis au commissaire de présenter la feuille de route du premier plan d'action européen pour l'économie sociale.
En effet, la Commission européenne a lancé une consultation ouverte le mois dernier pour préparer cette feuille de route, à laquelle le SOGA a participé et détaillé ses propositions sur la transition numérique et sur une économie plus collaborative.

Les propositions de l'association ont été élaborées grâce à nos partenaires, en particulier M. Michel Bauwens, qui nous a fait l'honneur de nous accorder un entretien. Ces recommandations ont également aidé le comité scientifique à faire évoluer sa réflexion sur la suite de notre travail de recherche.

Une première conférence intitulée "Étude sur la coopération entre les secteurs social et numérique
Lors d'une présentation accordée au SOGA lors du sommet, M. Emmanuel Rivat (Agence Phare, France), qui préside le comité, a présenté les travaux qu'il a menés précédemment pour l'association. Il a également détaillé ses hypothèses et pistes de recherche pour ce deuxième chapitre, qui portera sur les nouveaux modèles d'économie contributive en Europe. M. Nuno Comando (Casa do Impacto, Portugal) a présenté ses travaux sur le rapprochement des secteurs numérique et social pour créer de la valeur ajoutée. L'occasion était de prendre des exemples innovants lancés par cette organisation portugaise pour mettre en œuvre des solutions numériques inclusives.

Donnée ouverte, no-code et secteur social
Le sommet a été l'occasion pour le SOGA d'inaugurer son tout nouvel outil, le Social Tech Atlas. Il s'agit d'une cartographie interactive de plus de 1000 acteurs européens qui soutiennent les organisations de l'économie sociale dans leur transition numérique, ainsi que des organisations offrant des services numériques alternatifs ouverts ou de pair à pair.
Cet outil open-source a été conçu grâce à l'aide de nos partenaires, qui ont travaillé à nos côtés. M. Erwan Kezzar (>Contournement>, France) et M. Sander Van der Waal (Waag, Pays-Bas) ont présenté l’intérêt de l’open-source pour le secteur social, ainsi que leur précieux travail sur la conception d’une application mobile et web pour cet Atlas. Mme Patricia de la Garza Revilla (Quiddity, France) a détaillé l’intérêt et l’importance pour une organisation de se muer en fournisseur de données ouvertes, qui permettrait d’aller vers une économie plus collaborative. M. Víctor Meseguer (Social Economy Europe, Espagne) a détaillé le rôle clé du travail de son organisation dans la construction de politiques européennes liées à l’économie sociale et de sa mise à l’agenda rapide et nécessaire.

keynote Mannheim
Lancement du Social Tech Atlas avec les membres de l'association, lors de l'EUSES, le 26 mai 2021
Source: EUSES, Stadt Mannheim, Social Good Accelerator (screenshot) 
euses OECD conference
Jeanne Bretécher et d'autres intervenants européens lors d'une conférence de l'EUSES organisée par l'OCDE, le 27 mai 2021
Source: EUSES, Stadt Mannheim (screenshot)

La transition numérique pour les organisations à lucrativité limitée
Dans le cadre du sommet de Mannheim, une autre conférence organisée par l'EESC a été l'occasion pour la présidente de l'association, Mme Jeanne Bretécher, d’intervenir sur ce que le SOGA préconise pour une meilleure transition numérique. Elle a notamment souligné le problème de l’accès inégal aux aides publiques, celui lié aux barrières culturelles freinant la coopération intersectorielle, et celui lié au manque de compétences des acteurs de l’économie sociale.

L'opportunité a aussi été de souligner les actions à prioriser par les pouvoirs publics nationaux et européens pour faciliter la transition numérique des entreprises avec un panel d'intervenants originaires de Finlande ou l'Italie. Cela se ferait idéalement par la mise en place de conditions idéales de coopération pour une économie sociale collaborative et numérique. Ensuite, la montée en puissance des communs numériques a été soulignée et préconisée pour être mise au coeur du plan de relance. Dans un dernier point, la présidente de l’association est revenue sur la nécessité de démocratiser l’acculturation numérique et de faire monter l’économie sociale en compétences.

Ensuite, la présidente de l’association est revenue sur les outils, les technologies et les conditions clés pour favoriser la transition numérique des organisations sociales. Dans une démarche inclusive, le Social Good Accelerator fait ici le choix de ne pas parler uniquement d’entreprises à lucrativité limitée, mais bien d’élargir le spectre de son champ d’action à l’ensemble des structures qui oeuvrent pour le bien commun..

En effet, il y a pluralité de configurations existantes dans l’économie sociale. Cela nous pousse à soutenir et à accorder à un accès équitable aux fonds liés à la transition numérique de l’économie sociale, et ne pas les cantonner exclusivement aux PME classiques. Il semble important de garantir la numérisation de produits et de services pour tous les usagers afin d’améliorer les performances globales des organisations. Il s’agit d’une véritable question de résilience à laquelle les pouvoirs publics doivent répondre, « grâce à l'étendue unique des compétences qui leur sont conférées dans le cadre de leurs mandats ».

European flags
Le bâtiment Berlaymont de la Commission européenne à Bruxelles, en Belgique
Image libre de droits

Par ailleurs, la question des investissements effectués vers les acteurs du changement social numérique est cruciale. Ces derniers sont notamment ceux impliqués dans l’éducation, l’emploi numériques ou encore la requalification et le perfectionnement de modèles équitables. A l’heure actuelle, sans modèle alternatif solide face aux Etats-Unis et à la Chine, remédier à des questions sociales semble chimérique. Cela est d’autant plus important au regard de la montée croissante des inégalités, qui est au plus fort depuis des décennies dans les pays de l’OCDE. C’est la raison pour laquelle la présidente de l’association a soulevé les trois aspects principaux qui, selon nous, définissent la transformation numérique:

Un véritable problème d'accès aux ressources allouées par les pouvoirs publics
Alors qu'il y a près de 100 millions de personnes bénévoles dans l’UE, un problème formulation et d'un manque d'inclusivité dans la manière dont les aides publiques sont conçues est bien visible. La plupart des financeurs institutionnels, publics comme privés, ciblent les projets avant les moyens structurels et la gestion du changement. Or, la transformation numérique implique des investissements structurels en matériel, en logiciels mais aussi et surtout en formation - que ce soit pour les salariés ou les bénévoles concernés.

Il y a aussi un problème culturel, lié à celui d'une certaine demande
Les conclusions du premier chapitre d’une étude menée par notre association furent claires. Les valeurs de l'économie sociale semblent parfois incompatibles avec celles des producteurs de produits et services de l'économie numérique. Il existe donc une barrière culturelle très forte, doublée d'une barrière générationnelle. Cela s’explique en partie par des préjugés ainsi que par le manque de clarté sur la gamme de produits et services alternatifs compatibles avec les valeurs des organisations (libres, ouvertes, réellement collaboratives) et réellement accessibles aux néophytes (à l'instar du nouveau marché « no code »).

Un manque de compétences numériques parmi les acteurs de l'économie sociale
Bien que le numérique représente une réelle opportunité pour les organisations de l'Economie Sociale, les commandes ou les budgets publics alloués aux organisations du secteur étaient largement insuffisants par rapport aux défis à relever. Dans un cadre de plan de relance marqué par la résilience des populations, ces carences ont un impact direct sur les publics de ces organisations.

mannheim stadt
Vue panoramique de la ville de Mannheim, en Allemagne
Source: EUSES, Stadt Mannheim (screenshot)

Le Sommet de Mannheim a été un véritable succès pour l’association, qui a su montrer l’intérêt d’une meilleure digitalisation pour le secteur de l’économie sociale. De nombreuses organisations ont pu en rencontrer d’autres, tout en présentant des projets ambitieux et innovants. L’occasion a été pour le Social Good Accelerator de faire de même, notamment pour mettre ses idées sur le devant de la scène européenne. Par son caractère exclusivement en ligne, ce sommet a aussi montré les possibilités de résilience existantes dans le contexte actuel, ce qui a été souligné dans la feuille de route du plan d’action à l’économie sociale. Rendez-vous en novembre pour suivre de près sa publication finale. 

Sources:

– Michel Bauwens, Vasilis Kostakis, Manifeste pour une véritable économie collaborative : vers une société des communs, Editions Charles Léopold Mayer, Paris, 2017, 112 pages

-Marieke Huysentruyt, How European Governments Can Help Spur Innovations for the Public Good, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Stanford, 2021

EUSES 2021: on our way to Mannheim !

EUSES 2021: en route pour Mannheim !

par | 17 Mai 2021 | Actualités de SOGA

After its postponement, we are finally at the doorstep of this key summit for the social economy at European level. In the context of the German Council Presidency in 2020, the choice was made to hold the first European Social Economy Summit in Mannheim. In the end, the summit will be exclusively digital, and broadcast from the Rhineland city on 26 and 27 May, which does not detract from the importance of this pioneering event.

The first ever European Social Economy Summit will take place in Mannheim at the end of this month, focusing on collaboration, innovation and digitalisation. Organised by the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union of 2020, this summit will put the European Social Economy even more in the spotlight. The other presidencies that will follow Germany will be able to complete this agenda. This is currently the case with the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, which wishes to place the social economy at the heart of its action. France also intends to make digital technology “a priority” of its future Council presidency in the first half of next year (more info here in French).

The summit will be an opportunity to bring together many actors of the social economy from the EU. More than 80 meetings and 300 European organisations will be there to present their projects based on the triptych of innovation, collaboration and digitalisation. This is why the Social Good Accelerator has been invited. This occasion will allow the association to present two of its projects, which are being finalised or are about to be launched.

The Social Tech Atlas, a directory of digital and social economy actors in Europe

The ambition of this new open-source tool that the Social Good Accelerator will introduce in Mannheim will be to reference the stakeholders of social tech in Europe. Around 1000 of them will be referenced in this tool, and many more of them are supposed to come – as this map works on the basis of the willingness of the organisations who want to be referred within it. More info here.

Our research pillar, a keystone to shape our European actions

The second chapter of our research will soon be launched. It will be focused on a more macroeconomic approach than the first chapter, which was rather a comparison between European stakeholders in tech and social to understand their needs and expectations from these sectors. Our conference at the Mannheim summit will be the occasion to explain in details the conclusions of our first chapter, which will be an enlightment to understand why we chose to differ our approach for the incoming research project. More info here.

Preparing Mannheim : discussion with Karel Vanderpoorten

par | 2 Avr 2021 | Projets européens

This meeting was a dual initiative from Jeanne Bretécher, president of the association Social Good Accelerator and Karel Vanderpoorten, Policy Officer within the Social Economy Unit, DG Grow of European Commission, to bring people around the table on developments for the digital sector.

First, Dana Eleftheriadou (Advanced Technologies and Digital Transformation Team, European Commission) and Davor Meersman (CEO, OAS Cities) mentioned the role of smart cities in green and digital recoveries. Initially, their marketplace aims to make them known through a common sharing of good practices.

Mr Meersman highlighted what consists of today’s main issues. Indeed, he maintained that people look at the local level, which is very relevant, but they have troubles to find solutions and knowledge at that level. It explains why such initiatives like Tech4Good were launched. Then, the Social Good Accelerator added that the crisis also proved that most of those who suffer from the digital gap are small local organisations far from those tools. The main need on the social economy’s side is the upskilling one.

In a certain way, these topics are developed in the current opened consultation by the European Commission for the EU action plan for social economy.

Guillaume Jasson (Fantastique Bazar) continued by mentioning the issue of digital and cultural gaps (with scaling for instance). These are many reasons why the model of commons would be relevant to develop for the social economy, SOGA said. In France, examples on digital mediation already exist and promote the implementation of digital solutions for the territories. In that sense, it would be interesting to go in that direction, which could even consist as a key point for the action plan. To resolve such shortages, one of our following projects, the Social Good Atlas, would help many stakeholders to help implement local and social solutions. Community building seems to be a solution, in which the EU should invest more.

Beside, Denis Stokkink (Pour La Solidarité) maintained that there are many social economy stakeholders in the digital sector, but they don’t necessarily realise it. In a previous policy paper, Pour La Solidarité made a note on blockchain and social economy. The first reactions were skeptical, because many think that such tools are not for social economy. They are not necessarily aware of good practices related to such innovations.

Image credits © 2020 European Venture Philanthropy Association.
Fantastique Bazar. Pour La Solidarité

Editorial – DSA and DMA: Can the EU take on Big Tech?, March 2021, by Arnaud Castaignet

Editorial - DSA et DMA : L'UE peut-elle s'attaquer aux Big Tech ? mars 2021, par Arnaud Castaignet

par | 23 Mar 2021 | Editorial

In December 2020, the European Commission presented the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). Both are aimed at regulating digital platforms and clarifying the policing responsibilities. These new pieces of legislation are billed as urgent pieces of regulation, mostly because of concerns that the likes of Google and Facebook have become too powerful.

Last week, Margrethe Vestager, the executive vice-president of the EU and competition commissioner, even quoted David Bowie when she urged MEPs to speed up adoption of the legislation, saying “so now’s the moment when you can be heroes”. The European official has said she hopes an agreement between the European Parliament, member states and the European Commission can be reached by “spring 2022”.
The DMA focuses on gatekeepers’ behaviours and their impact on market dynamics, while the DSA seeks to consolidate various separate pieces of EU legislation and self-regulatory practices that address online illegal or ‘harmful’ content and to harmonise the rules applicable to the provision of digital services across the EU.

The context in which the two texts are now being discussed is highly favourable to a tough position for the EU against platforms. The suspension of the social media accounts of former U.S. President Donald Trump by Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and others this winter sparked a lot of controversy in Europe. Without defending Donald Trump’s quotes, German Chancellor Angela Merkel considered the move “problematic.” The EU Commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, found it “perplexing” that Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey could simply pull the plug on POTUS’s loudspeaker “without any checks and balances.”. From a European point of view, governments and institutions should regulate, not the company themselves without any legal framework but their internal rules. Governments and institutions ensure the freedom of expression, and set boundaries such as hate speech and incitement to violence, and companies must comply to laws.

Paradoxically, for some time now, European politicians have been trying to convince online platforms to “do more” to police the content of their users. National laws such as the German NetzDG, the Austrian KoPlG and the unconstitutional French Avia bill all require more effective moderation of online spaces, including more and faster removals. But “online gatekeepers” making arbitrary decisions about speech they allow online remains an issue.
The key here is that the DSA aims to regulate the process and not to regulate the speech. The idea is to strengthen due process, clarify notice and take down procedures, improve transparency of the decision making and ensure redress mechanism for removal or blocking decisions. Platforms would face the prospect of billions of euros in fines unless they abide by new rules across fields including advertising transparency, illegal content removal, and data access.

The DMA is the other key legislation that the Commission wants to implement to tackle the complex challenges facing the EU Digital Single Market, and improve the gatekeepers’ behaviour. While the Commission has not named any companies, it has proposed criteria that are sure to catch Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and SAP, among others. In the DMA, it defines a gatekeeper as a platform that operates in one (or more) of the digital world’s eight core services (including search, social networking, advertising and marketplaces) in at least three EU countries and:
  • Has a significant impact on the internal market (defined quantitatively as an annual turnover of €6.5 billion or a market capitalisation of €65 billion);
  • Serves as an important gateway for business users to reach end-users (user base larger than 45 million monthly end-users and 10,000 business users yearly);
  • Enjoys an entrenched and durable position or is likely to continue to enjoy such a position (meets the first and second criteria over three consecutive years).

A platform that meets these quantitative thresholds is labelled a gatekeeper. The Commission would also be empowered to alter the thresholds as technologies change, and to conduct market investigations to look for new gatekeepers.

Consequently, the DMA only targets the truly massive corporations. This way, companies and potential competitors to the Big Tech companies are not burdened with undue regulation. Basically, the DMA would list “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for big tech companies.
For instance, no self-preferencing: a prohibition on ranking their own products over others;
Data portability: an obligation to facilitate the portability of continuous and real-time data;
No ‘spying’: a prohibition on gatekeepers on using the data of their business users to compete with them;
Interoperability of ancillary services: an obligation to allow third-party ancillary service providers (eg payment providers) to run on their platforms;
Open software: an obligation to permit third-party app stores and software to operate on their OS.

The DMA states that the European Commission alone will be responsible for enforcement, meaning they would investigate any alleged violations and hand out penalties to any gatekeepers that violate the DMA’s new rules. Sanctions could go from fines, to periodic penalty payments, additional penalties, including potential “structural remedies”.

Time will tell if the DSA and the DMA manage to change the way the Internet operates and tackle the accumulation of power in the hands of a few companies that happened in the last decade. In any case, before we can create an internet that puts people first, it is important to regulate the domination of a few and support competition. The proposals for a Digital Services Act and a Digital Markets Act are therefore meant to protect Europeans as consumers if technology poses a risk to fundamental rights.



Author
Arnaud Castaignet, Tech European expert and Administrator of SOGA EU
Tallinn, Estonia
March 2021
The role of social economy in a fair and sustainable recovery: input for the future Action Plan on social economy

The role of social economy in a fair and sustainable recovery: input for the future Action Plan on social economy

par | 11 Mar 2021 | Editorial

The first European Social plan, which will be driven by European associations and announced by Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, raises several questions. The consequences of the economic and social crises we are experiencing are putting the social economy at the forefront, which has shown its resilience capacities in the recent months. This is why the European Economic and Social Committee organised a public hearing on February 17th focusing on the role of the social economy in the European recovery.

 

“The circular economy can only work with fair regulation”

The European Union has been able to propose new legislative instruments that will strengthen the adaptability of its public policies and the resilience of its citizens. New levers for action were recommended in the recent strategic foresight report. Giuseppe Guerini (EESC) highlighted the appropriate response the social economy provided in the crisis and in the recovery. That is why there is a need for “a more harmonised fiscal policy among Member States, which would allow greater recognition of the general interest function of social economy organisations”, he said. This issue is also perfectly fits with the programme of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council that began last January, which focuses on the European social rights basis and also corresponds to the action plan announced by Mr. Schmit. It should be noted that this presidency is resolutely focused on the digital dimension, and that this dimension will be pursued during the forthcoming Slovenian and French presidencies.

 

The MEP Sven Giegold then focused on the role of the European Parliament in promoting social economy. According to the MEP, “the EU must support this sector as much as possible, in particular by going further in terms of public policies”. For example, it would be appropriate, according to Mr Giegold, to create a stronger statute for associations at the European level. “There is a real need for a new offensive from the European institutions to recognise the social economy in its diversity, to facilitate the procedures related to it and to create a clear and transparent status” he said. The MEP supports the idea that the social economy can only function on the basis of fair regulation, while relying on a long political agenda and continued support from public authorities.

“The role of the state must be reassessed to improve our resilience”

Nevertheless, the EU is defined by the Treaties as a social market economy, which at present still seems to be lacking. It is necessary to find a good balance to bring business into this debate. Thus, the major economic sectors are seen as inactive in this area, according to Maxime Cerutti (Business Europe).

There is a need for help, especially financial help, in this sector, which has been weakened by the current crises. Filipa Farelo (CASES, Portugal) took the opportunity to point out that “the social economy should be given greater prominence in order to guarantee a better European transition, particularly in view of its importance in terms of resilience”. According to her, the social economy has demonstrated its capacity for inclusion and diversity, in terms of the good representation of women and people with reduced mobility it shows, compared to other sectors.

 

“The current crisis allows for change in some sectors”

Juan Pedreno (Social Economy Europe) pointed out the importance of supporting democratically functioning start-ups. Such initiatives would allow for a more active participation of European citizens, while strengthening protection systems and cooperation with the public sector to build innovative projects. Thus, the digital transition is a crucial issue for revitalising the social economy in Europe, especially in rural areas affected by the crisis through collective enterprises. The role of the state must therefore be reassessed to improve the resilience of each and every individual.

 

The social economy is therefore a priority for many actors at the European level, as Jordi Canas, MEP, stated at this public hearing. He therefore regretted the fact that the social economy is not a priority of the Commission, but an objective. Ann Branch (DG Empl) stated that “the Commission attaches full importance to the common base and the social economy”. This therefore poses problems of legal interpretation at the level of European standards related to this theme.

This position is all the more regrettable since the role of the social economy is clear in job creation, without being fully recognised, according to Gianluca Pastorelli (DIESIS). This is why the current crises could be a real window of opportunity to change certain sectors, such as “tourism, which can be made more sustainable and local”, in connection with the social economy.

 

EU Social Tech Public Affairs Web Review

EU Social Tech Public Affairs Web Review

par | 19 Nov 2020 | Communs & plaidoyer, Editorial, Revue de presse


As the COVID health crisis19 is forcing a large proportion of Europeans to remain at home, Social Economy, Digital inclusion, Democracy defense are more than ever accurate. On such matters, European activity is not slowing down. Here is a panorama on EU Public Affairs news on our subject (Tech x Social) : Digital Service Act, digital ambitions of the German Presidency of the EU, Data Governance Act, European Action Plan for Democracy and ambitions for the ‘next world’.

Digital Service Act : imposing a Tech European model

From Brussels, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market is fully mobilised on the Digital Services Act: “As part of the European Digital Strategy, the European Commission has announced a Digital Services Act package to strengthen the Single Market for digital services and foster innovation and competitiveness of the European online environment”. The main aim is to reform the Directive on electronic commerce dating from 2000 with regard to the obligations and responsibilities of platforms and to develop the competition rules. It also provides for the regulation of online content, reinforcing the responsibility of intermediaries in the “fight against illegal content and its amplification”. It thus includes the inclusion of online hate in criminal offences at European level. “Platforms must be more responsible and accountable, they must become more transparent. It is time to go beyond self-regulatory measures” says Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Values and Transparency.

Very clearly, the European Commission’s ambition is to tackle the ‘too big to care’ monopoly, which the Commission believes crushes competition and distorts the smooth functioning of the internal market. The arm wrestling, as we suspected, promises to be tough. Thierry Breton, who wants to take the digital economy out of the “Far West” era, does not hesitate to directly question the bosses of Silicon Valey: “Don’t try to play the smartest game. Pay your taxes if you have to pay them. Don’t resort to tax havens. Pay your taxes,” he told Facebook’s CEO last May, before Google CEO Sundar Pichai apologised in October for his more than aggressive internal lobbying practices. 

The German rotating presidency of the Council of Europe, which ends in December 2020, also makes digital technology one of its major subjects, along with the ecological transition. “In order to stand out internationally as a community of values, we must therefore position ourselves even better on strategic future issues such as climate change, refugees and migration, the rule of law and digital transformation”, said the German Foreign Minister when presenting an ambitious agenda. This also includes the development of a European data and 5G infrastructure and support for research, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. The Data Governance Act, a regulation on data governance proposed by the European Commission, should thus inflate the pool of data that will feed AI systems and start-ups, and in fine should encourage the emergence of these large sectoral data spaces. 

European Democracy : inclusion of people, social economy and civil society are key

The other major topic of this new school year is Democracy. It is the common thread of the digital regulation carried by Europe. And it is a matter of urgency. On the one hand because the breeding ground for mistrust is becoming more and more fertile, particularly because of social networks. According to a survey carried out by the Jean Jaurès Foundation in February 2019, “one Frenchman in five agreed with at least one conspiracy theory” and “43% of those polled agreed that the government would be in cahoots with the pharmaceutical laboratories to hide the reality of the harmfulness of vaccines”. European politicians are also singing the praises of this questioning of our democratic values. While the European recovery plan was painfully voted through, Hungary and Poland decided to apply their veto refusing “that the payment of Community funds should henceforth be conditional on respect for the rule of law”. One point of consensus, whatever our values: they cannot be bought with billions of euros of aid.

The European action plan for democracy, which has been under the media radar, was the subject of an online consultation this summer. Through the accumulation of new constraints and recommendations for all actors in the democratic game, it must both strengthen the integrity of elections, guarantee media freedom and provide solid strategies against disinformation. It is scheduled for December. 

After the first containment, calls for the “next  world” had bloomed like flowers in the spring. Despite this regulatory activism, the European project is taking a beating. One would have dreamed that European news coverage would be as dense as it was during the American elections. Wishful thinking that fades like leaves in autumn. Yet there are some calls that resonate more than others, such as that of the first European democratic institution: David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament. “We must ensure that the European policies supported by the resources we pool will encourage a transformation of our economies in the years to come, in the service of respect for the environment, social cohesion – which has been particularly affected in the current health context – and the fight against all forms of inequality,” David Sassoli declared last September. He also recognised that “Europe needs more than ever to support the voluntary sector” and that “the harmonisation of the single market should not be limited to companies but should also concern the voluntary sector“. In the meantime, a European regulation on participatory financing to protect investors from financial losses will have to be sufficient. 

But those who have the most to lose are ultimately the most precarious among us. What appears to be self-evident takes on even greater prominence in the DESI ranking, which reveals that the digital and economic divides overlap.  In that prospect, Cedric O, French Secretary of state for Digital affairs, just  announced a budget of €250 million (40% EU funding) on inclusive digital on the NEC 2020. 4,000 digital advisers will be recruited by local authorities and associations.

For all these mentioned prospect and because Social Economy and Civil society are both a motor for a more sustainable and prosperous economy for all in Europe, they have to be fully involved in all public policies making. This is also what the European Platform for Philanthropy is calling for. 









By Nils Pedersen, President of La Fonda Asso and Vice-President of SOGA EU for Public and Academic Affairs


Paris, november 2020


 

SOGA EU 2020 Press Release – New ambitions, new team and sponsorship of Axelle Lemaire

par | 19 Nov 2020 | Actualités de SOGA

Paris-Brussels, 26 October 2020
 

On the occasion of its annual General Assembly and its autumn Board of Directors, the SOGA EU (Social Good Accelerator EU) reaffirms its ambitions in favour of the digital transition of general interest actors in Europe. In order to achieve them, the association is renewing its Board of Directors and its Bureau: Axelle Lemaire, former Secretary of State in charge of digital and innovation within the French government and director of Terra numerata, associated with the Roland Berger law firm, has become the association’s patron. Alongside Jeanne Bretécher, President of the movement and Nils Pedersen, Vice-President in charge of Research and Institutional Affairs, Sylvain Reymond becomes Vice-President in charge of Development and Partnerships and Laura Frantz becomes Treasurer.

 
Created in March 2018, the Social Good Accelerator is a European movement that currently brings together 33 associations and social enterprises as well as 35 committed citizens between Paris, Lisbon and Brussels to accelerate the technological transition of general interest organisations in Europe. An increasing number of these actors are committed within this movement to ensure that organisations of social economy and civil society are fully recognised as players in the European technological transition, highlighting the non-profit and solidarity-based digital culture, exploring the conditions for cooperation between the social economy and the technological sector and organising the influence of European Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) organisations in Brussels.

 

New European ambitions

In only two and a half years of its existence, SOGA EU has managed to organise the first Social Innovation Village at the Web Summit in 2018 (Lisbon) with the support of the European Commission to promote alternative models from SSE in Europe to Tech actors. At the end of 2019 it published a first study on cooperation between social utility and tech actors in Europe. 
 
Last spring, the movement and its members were consulted by the European Commission on the Data and AI strategies. At the same time, it launches the SOGA EU Academy, a peer-to-peer digital acculturation webinar programme for SSE organisations. 
 
On the basis of this initial assessment and these major successes, the association will intensify its action in the coming months with :
 
A mapping of the European actors of the digital transition in the Social and Solidarity Economy
The second part of our research work on cooperation between SSE and Tech actors in Europe, which will consist in analysing the contributions of the European tech sector
Active participation in the definition of the digital transition section of the European Plan for the Social Economy, which will be unveiled in Mannheim in May 2021 by the European Commissioner for Employment Nicolas Schmit, advised by Nicolas Hazard (INCO).
 

A strengthened  Governance

To achieve these new ambitions, the SOGA EU is renewing and consolidating its governance in depth while ensuring that it is representative of the stakeholders. 
 
Six new directors have joined the structure and support its expertise: Aurélien Beaucamp, President of AIDES and CSR Director of Page Group France; Emma Ghariani, Director General of SCIC la MedNum; Laure Vicard, Director of Innovation of Emmaus France; Denis Pansu, Director of Programmes of the Fondation Internet Nouvelle Génération; and Laura Franz, DAF-DRH of ProBonoLab.
 
Alongside Jeanne Bretécher, President, and Nils Pedersen, Vice-President, Sylvain Reymond also becomes Vice-President of the movement. Lila Senta Loys becomes Secretary and Laura Frantz, Treasurer.







Axelle Lemaire, former Secretary of State for Digital (2014-2017), joins the association as Main Sponsor and intends to give a new dimension to the Movement:



About the Social Good Accelerator Europe

 
The Social Good Accelerator EU is a European movement that brings together 33 associations and social enterprises and 35 committed citizens between Paris, Lisbon and Brussels to accelerate the technological transition of public interest organisations in Europe. 
 
In order for general interest organisations to be fully recognised as actors of the European technological transition, we highlight the non-profit and solidarity-based digital culture, explore the conditions of cooperation between social economy and technology sector and organise the influence of SSE organisations in Brussels. 
 

Our legal entity members (2020)




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Contact presse

Jeanne Bretécher, Présidente

contact (a) socialgoodaccelerator.eu

 

European Call for Projects by Cap Digital : DigiCirc (deadline January 14th 2021)

par | 19 Nov 2020 | Editorial

The European project DigiCirc launches the 1st call for projects dedicated to the CIRCULAR CITY.

 
Coordinated by Cap Digital, the European project DigiCirc brings together 10 partners from 9 countries. Its objective is to make our economy more circular by relying on digital technologies.
 
With €2.4 million of cascading funding, the project will support European SMEs in developing digital solutions to address the challenges identified in the following sectors: the circular city, blue growth and the bio-economy.
 
In this 1st call for projects, we are looking for innovative digital solutions that meet the challenges of the circular city, i.e. innovations that can increase the efficiency of cities, reduce their ecological footprint and the health costs of their inhabitants.
 
Proposals must be submitted by consortia of at least two SMEs/start-ups.
 
The selected consortia will be eligible to benefit from :
 
Up to 60K€ of funding per SME/start-up;
An intensive 12-week acceleration program;
Individual and personalized business and thematic coaching by experts;
Access to tools to test and develop their digital solutions.
 
>> Closing date for applications: January 14, 2021 at 5:00 pm CET <<
We invite you to subscribe to the newsletter to learn more and receive the latest news of the project.
 
Contact: julia.morawski (a) capdigital.com
 
The DigiCirc team
SOGA EU : Social Economy Digital Road to Mannheim

SOGA EU : Social Economy Digital Road to Mannheim

par | 13 Nov 2020 | Editorial

The Road to EU Social Economy Summit, Mannheim, May 2021

Tallinn, Estonia, november 2020

In her letter of intent to David Maria Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is currently holding the EU Council Presidency, accompanying her State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the Action Plan for the Social Economy will be among the initiatives for 2021. The Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit is currently preparing this plan and he should publish it during the European Social Economy Summit’ on 26 – 27 May 2021 in Mannheim and make it approved in the second half of 2021.

Why should this European Action Plan for the Social Economy be a key milestone for the European Commission and the SSE actors?

The document should provide with a new vision of the economic system and a key instrument to systematically integrate the social economy in the different socio-economic policies of the European Union, as well as in its actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs). The plan should highlight the fact third sector and social impact can play a transformative role and strengthen the capacity to react to crises. 

Indeed, there are currently 2 million social economy enterprises (cooperatives, mutual societies, non-profit associations, foundations and social enterprises) in Europe, representing 10% of all businesses in the EU. Approximately 6.3% of the working population is employed in this sector. During the coronavirus crisis the sector has become more visible and is seen by the European institutions as critical for Europe’s two priorities: the green and digital transitions. 

While the French Social Economy Month is beginning as every november since 11 years in France, and ESS France is lauching a Social Economy Republic platform, European institutions – 5 DG units including EU Commission DG Growth, Employment, Research & Innovation, EcFin and Connect – are working all together to prepare the plan along with European Economic and Social Comitee and Civil society partners, as our partners Social Economy Europe et Pour la Solidarité.

EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, former Minister of Social Economy in Luxemburg, leading the Plan fo EU Commission, sees supporting social economy and social enterprises as a key part of building the sustainable future of Europe. In that prospect, he is well decided to move forward with the development of this plan. Therefore, he just appointed a new special advisor on social economy issues; Nicolas Hazard, a French entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of INCO, which invests and supports environmentally sustainable and socially responsible innovative companies.  In a meeting on 28th September with Finland’s Minister of Social Affais Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, he also indicated that the Action Plan would include the topic of social participation in order to support investment in the sector.

The work on the Plan will also go through the Digital Road to Mannheim 2021

Eight online events in preparation for the European Social Economy Summit. Each Roadmap event focuses on a specific topic and aims to connect different social economy actors in Europe in a highly interactive format, present best practices and use cases, and provide information in interactive sessions of changemakers across Europe. The first online event “New challenges, new innovations, new solidarities – Social Economy in the fight against COVID 19” has been held on September 24th and gathered close to 300 online participants. The next one ” Leaving no one behind Employment, upskilling and social inclusion in the changing world of work” will be organised on October 29th and will feature Manuela Geleng, Director – DG EMPL, Sebastien Darrigrand, General Director UDES – Union des employeurs de l’économie sociale et solidaire, and Trebor Scholz, Founding Director of the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy and the Platform Cooperativism Consortium, among speakers: https://www.euses2020.eu/exchange-events/october/.

We encourage everyone to attend and join as the monthly European Social Economy Exchange Events are an excellent opportunity to connect, learn and engage with a diverse audience representing the large variety of actors active in the field all over Europe. It is important for all actors of the SSE to help amplify their voices and stress the importance of significant economic rescue measures directed towards Social Economy actors and the role of SSE responses in fighting the pandemic and supporting post-Covid19 resilience.




Author
Arnaud Castaignet, Tech European expert and Administrator of SOGA EU
Tallinn, Estonia
november 2020

COMMUNIQUE SOGA EU 2020 – Nouvelles ambitions, nouvelle équipe et marrainage d’Axelle Lemaire

par | 9 Nov 2020 | Actualités de SOGA

Paris-Bruxelles, le 26 octobre 2020

A l’occasion de son Assemblée Générale annuelle et de son Conseil d’Administration de rentrée, le SOGA EU (Social Good Accelerator EU) réaffirme ses ambitions en faveur de la transition numérique des acteurs de l’intérêt général en Europe. Pour les atteindre, l’association renouvelle son Conseil d’Administration et son Bureau  : Axelle Lemaire, ancienne secrétaire d’Etat en charge du numérique et de l’innovation au sein du gouvernement français et directrice de Terra numerata, associée au Cabinet Roland Berger devient pour sa part marraine de l’association. Aux côtés de Jeanne Bretécher, Présidente du mouvement et Nils Pedersen, Vice-Président en charge de la Recherche et des affairs institutionnelles Sylvain Reymond devient Vice-président en charge du développement et des partenariats et Laura Frantz devient trésorière.

Créé en mars 2018, le Social Good Accelerator est un mouvement européen qui réunit à ce jour 33 associations et entreprises sociales ainsi 35 citoyens engagés entre Paris, Lisbonne et Bruxelles pour accélérer la transition technologique des organisations d’intérêt général en Europe. Ces acteurs sont de plus en plus nombreux à s’engager au sein de ce mouvement afin que les organisations d’intérêt général soient pleinement reconnues comme actrices de la transition technologique européenne, met en lumière la culture numérique à but non lucratif et solidaire, explore les conditions de coopération entre économie sociale et secteur technologique et organise l’influence des organisations de l’Économie Sociale et Solidaire (ESS) européenne à Bruxelles.

De nouvelles ambitions européennes


En seulement 2 ans et demi d’existence le SOGA EU est parvenu à organiser le premier village de l’´innovation sociale au Web Summit en 2018 (Lisbonne) avec le soutien de la commission européenne pour valoriser les modèles alternatifs issus de l’ESS en Europe auprès des acteurs de la Tech. Fin 2019 elle a publié une première étude sur les coopérations entres acteurs d’utilité sociale et acteurs tech en Europe. 

Au printemps dernier, le mouvement et ses membres sont consultés par la Commission européenne sur les stratégies Data et IA. En même temps, il lance la SOGA EU Academy, une programmation de webinaire d’acculturation numérique « pair à pair » pour les organisations de l’ESS. 

Forte de ce premier bilan et de ces grandes réussites, l’association intensifie son action dans les prochains mois avec :

  • Une cartographie des acteurs européens de la transition numérique dans l’Économie sociale et solidaire
  • Le deuxième volet de notre travail de recherche sur les coopérations entre acteurs de l’ESS et de la Tech en Europe, qui consistera à analyser les contributions du secteur tech européen
  • Une participation active à la définition du volet transition numérique du Plan européen pour l’Économie sociale qui sera dévoilé  Mannheim en mai 2021 par le Commissaire européen à l’emploi Nicolas Schmit, conseillé par Nicolas Hazard (INCO).

Une Gouvernance qui se renforce en conséquence


Pour atteindre ces nouvelles ambitions, le SOGA EU renouvelle et consolide sa gouvernance en profondeur tout en veillant à sa volonté de représentativité des acteurs. 

Six nouveaux administrateurs intègrent la structure et viennent appuyer son expertise  : Aurélien Beaucamp, Président de AIDES et Directeur RSE de Page Group France ; Emma Ghariani, Directrice générale de la SCIC la MedNum ; Laure Vicard, Directrice de l’innovation d’Emmaüs France ; Denis Pansu, Directeur des programmes de la Fondation Internet Nouvelle Génération; et Laura Franz, DAF-DRH de ProBonoLab.

Aux côtés de Jeanne Bretécher, Présidente, et de Nils Pedersen, Vice-Président, Sylvain Reymond devient également Vice-Président du mouvement. Lila Senta Loys en devient Secrétaire et Laura Frantz, Trésorière.











Axelle Lemaire, ancienne Secrétaire d’Etat au numérique (2014-2017), rejoint de son côté l’association en la qualité de Marraine et entend donner une nouvelle dimension au Mouvement : 





















A propos du Social Good Accelerator Europe


Le Social Good Accelerator EU est un mouvement européen qui réunit 33 associations et entreprises sociales ainsi 35 citoyens engagés entre Paris, Lisbonne et Bruxelles pour accélérer la transition technologique des organisations d’intérêt général en Europe. 

Pour que les organisations d’intérêt général soient pleinement reconnues comme actrices de la transition technologique européenne, nous mettons en lumière la culture numérique à but non lucratif et solidaire, nous explorons les conditions de coopération entre économie sociale et secteur technologique et organisons l’influence des organisations de l’ESS à Bruxelles. 

Nos membres personnes morales (2020)




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Contact presse

Jeanne Bretécher, Présidente

contact (a) socialgoodaccelerator.eu