Democracy in practice: The social economy as a pillar of European values
April 16, 2026
Online
Members of the Epeka Association attended the second meeting in the webinar series “Democracy at Work: Social Economy Actors Bring EU Values Closer to Citizens”. The event was held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026 and was organised by Social Economy Europe (SEE).
Main highlights of the discussion: The second roundtable entitled “The Social Economy as a Pillar of Democracy” offered an in-depth insight into how local actors strengthen the foundations of our society. The experts highlighted the key points:
- Inclusion and participation: The social economy is not just an economic model, but a tool for the active involvement of citizens in decision-making processes.
- Bringing EU values closer together: Through concrete local actions, social economy actors translate European values into people’s daily lives.
- Building resilience: The debate confirmed that democratic principles within companies and organisations are key to greater social cohesion.
Social Economy Europe (SEE) is hosting a three-day online event entitled “Democracy at Work: Social Economy Actors Bringing EU Values to Citizens” (9, 16, 23 April 2026) to showcase how cooperatives, associations and social enterprises promote EU values such as solidarity, democracy and inclusion, in particular through community-centred local development and care. The sessions highlight the role of the sector in fostering a resilient, people-centred economy under the Cyprus Presidency in 2026.
Key aspects of how social economy actors bring EU values to citizens:
- Democratic participation and values: The initiative demonstrates how social economy actors (SEs) integrate democratic governance and solidarity into their operations and serve as a pillar of European democracy.
- Social and economic well-being: Events focus on how these actors contribute to the EU’s industrial capacity while enhancing the economic and social well-being of citizens.
- Key sectors: The initiative covers sectors such as energy, digitalisation, industry, tourism and ethical finance, and demonstrates how these offer concrete solutions to local challenges.
- Addressing demographic challenges: Social economy entities are key to managing an ageing population, providing community-based care and putting people before profit, which directly strengthens European competitiveness and cohesion.
- Policy support: Organised by Social Economy Europe, the series is aligned with the EU’s priorities to create a level playing field for ethical, sustainable and inclusive growth.
