Social Enterprises – a Key Factor in Strengthening Cohesion and a Fair Transition

The European Union is facing an increasing concern related to numerous social and environmental issues (climate change, precarious conditions of society supported by a regressive living condition, as well as the uneven effects expected in the context of the green and digital transition) that reinforce calls for solutions that could address all these shortcomings as comprehensively as possible. Social enterprises are seen as the tool that could face the challenges of our times on a three-dimensional level, addressing economic, social, and environmental problems at the same time. These are even more important for the European model as they prioritize social value and development as a driving force for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Social entrepreneurs are a part of civil society that have chosen to be actively involved in solving the issues that surround us by promoting innovative business models that support a sustainable and harmonious development. Policy makers must create a unified framework at European level regarding social enterprises and strengthen their role in the European economy by including in the main EU policies that would support their financing and development.

Therefore, the objective of this article is to examine how social enterprises could act to ensure the premises of an inclusive ecological transition, as well as to stimulate discussion and research on the topic of social enterprises.