The update of the EU Industrial Strategy highlights the need to accelerate the green and digital transitions of EU Industry. Among the various instruments, the Commission proposed to co-create, in partnership with industry, public authorities, social partners and other stakeholders, transition pathways for ecosystems, where needed. The proximity & social economy ecosystem was identified among those ecosystems to develop such a transition pathway.

The Commission services have prepared a Staff Working Document to outline possible scenarios for a transition pathway towards a more resilient, green and digital proximity and social economy industrial ecosystem. Through collaborative efforts, the aim is to co-create concrete actions and commitments with all stakeholders of this ecosystem to step up its green and digital transition and strengthen its resilience to future shocks.

These efforts will build upon the EU Industrial strategy update, which highlighted the need to accelerate the green and digital transitions of EU Industry and identified needs and challenges of 14 industrial ecosystems.

They will also build on the Action Plan on the Social Economy, which proposes a series of actions for the period 2021-2030 to support the development of the social economy.

Based on the results of the consultation, the EC will organise further meetings with stakeholders to deepen the discussions towards finalising the proximity & social economy pathway during 2022.

You are invited to engage in this process by contributing to this survey that will run until 28 February 2022.

In case of questions about this consultation, please send an email to GROW-SOCIAL-ENTERPRISE@ec.europa.eu