Social Economy Plan: first test in the Budget Bill

The implementation of the National Plan for the social economy, which was the subject of the communication to the Council of Ministers on 2 July, requires legislative measures aimed at creating the enabling conditions for the promotion of the organisations that form part of it. This initiative forms part of a broader context of growing institutional attention towards the social economy, as evidenced by the reference to the Action Plan made in the 2026 Public Finance Policy Document, which opened the current budget session taking place at this very moment.

The ecosystem outlined in the Plan comprises third sector organisations (including social cooperatives and social enterprises), cooperative societies, religious organisations and amateur sport. All these organisations – whilst differing in form, legal status and areas of activity – are united by the principles set out in the EU Council Recommendation of 27 November 2023, namely the pursuit of objectives of general and collective interest, the primacy of the individual over profit, and the adoption of rules of democratic or participatory governance.

The Action Plan translates the European guidelines into a national programme of measures covering, amongst other things, taxation, finance, employment, the enhancement of the property portfolio, a culture of philanthropy, and relations with the traditional market and public administrations. Its practical implementation may take place through various means: ministerial measures, policy documents, practical guidelines and the dissemination of best practice. For some of the planned actions, however, it will be necessary to amend current legislation, particularly with regard to those aspects which, at present, affect the operating conditions (including economic ones) of the various social economy organisations.

With this in mind, an initial legislative measure concerns the drafting of a framework law on the social economy. The aim is to incorporate into the legal system a unified concept of a social economy organisation, without introducing a new legal form or status. Rather, it is necessary to certify the already ‘standardised’ classifications that align with European values, whilst also making the most of existing registers (the Business Register, cooperative registers, Runts, Rasd). Defining the scope is a fundamental prerequisite for identifying the target groups of public policies and carrying out a reliable mapping of the sector, including from a quantitative perspective.

From an organisational perspective, the proposed establishment of a dedicated administrative body within the Ministry of Economy and Finance – tasked with coordinating, driving and monitoring the implementation of the Plan – would also require legislation.