«The objective of this working group will be to examine the general reference framework of the social economy, taking into account the proposals presented with the recommendation of the EU Council, thus helping the Nation to outline a sector strategy to promote legal frameworks favorable to development of this sector”. The undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance explains this to VITA: Lucia Albanothe establishment of the Working Group on Social Economy, right at the Mef.
Albano, as is known, has the delegation for this matter, on which the European Council of 27 November approved a Recommendation to develop the framework conditions within 24 months.
What is in the framework conditions
These are important matters, certainly not trifles like, we quote from the text of Recommendation itself, “access to public and private financing”, “access to markets and public procurement”, “state aid”, “taxation”, “social impact management”, “visibility and recognition”.
«I decided to set up a working group to examine the actions to be undertaken in order to support the development of the social economy in all its aspects», continues Albano, «social economy which plays, I remind you, a fundamental role for our social cohesion and for the economic growth of the country: 400 thousand organisations, 1.5 million employees, an added value of 40 billion euros: we are talking about 6.7% of the private economy. Without forgetting 4.6 million volunteers. A role”, he continues, “that does not confine the social economy to a residual area, as demonstrated on many occasions (pandemic, primarily) but which, indeed, has a clear anti-cyclical function in crisis phases”.
The real estate assets
for socially useful initiatives
«Not to mention», continues the undersecretary, «the further need – particularly current in the Italian context – to develop directives to enhance the real estate assets intended for socially useful initiatives and aimed at combining the needs of the market with the sustainable development of the territory. Think of the models of living with a social purpose. Other areas of intervention in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the recommendation concern, for example, the identification of mechanisms and measures that can facilitate the partnership between traditional businesses and social economy realities, as well as support for skills training on the themes and methods of manifestation of the social economy”.
It is important that the undersecretary made a clear reference to the valorisation of real estate assets because Albano also has the mandate for relations with the State Property Office.
Who was at the first meeting
Now we are moving on to the operational phase and Albano convened the main organizations of the Third Sector and social cooperation on Thursday last week. At the meeting at the ministry there were, according to VITA, the leaders of Confcooperative and Legacoop, Third Sector Forum, CsvNet and also the main “religious non-profit” entities, such as the Italian Conference of Major Superiors and the Union of the major superiors of Italy. Also present are documentation and research entities, from the non-profit and academic world, such as the Terzjus Foundation and the Euricse Foundation; of the State, such as Istat; of the world of chambers of commerce, Unioncamere, and of the world of professional associations, such as the National Council of Accountants and the Council of Notaries.
The Working Group should now travel expeditiously because November 2025 is, ultimately, around the corner.
Mef: «It is a Group open to contributions»
From via XX Settembre, headquarters of the ministry of Giancarlo Giorgetti, However, they point out that the participants in the first meeting “are not exclusive and that contributions from other institutions are also welcome, should they wish to participate”.
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The opening photo – which depicts volunteers collecting food in Milan – is by Claudio Furlan for LaPresse.
