31 October 2025
On Wednesday 30 October 2025, SGI Europe participated in the Global Social Economy Forum 2025, held in Bordeaux (29-31 October 2025).
Pascal Bolo, President of SGI Europe, addressed the round table discussion entitled ‘Social dialogue in the Social Economy: a model of social innovation in Europe,’ moderated by Hugues Pollastro, Director General of UDES, a member of the French section of SGI Europe.
During the roundtable, Pascal Bolo was able to exchange views with David Cluzeau, President of UDES, Juan Antonio Pedreno, President of CEPES Spain, Stéphane Emmanuelidis, President of UNIPSO in Wallonia (Belgium) and Giuseppe Guerini, President of Confcooperative Federsolidarietà in Italy.
Each of the speakers gave an overview of the social dialogue currently taking place in their respective countries in relation to the Social Economy. Mr Bolo rounded off this overview by highlighting SGI Europe's contribution to cross-sector social dialogue at the European level. This was an opportunity to stress the unique positioning of SGI Europe, which represents employers and providers of services of general interest. Unlike strictly profit-oriented employers, SGI Europe members combine economic performance with public service obligations by guaranteeing the continuity, accessibility and quality of services for all citizens. This dual approach gives SGI Europe a unique position in the European social dialogue.
SGI Europe thus links the business approach with the general interest approach, in close connection with the values of the social and solidarity economy, a concrete compromise maker. A uniqueness which could support the Social Economy and Services of General Interest convergence.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
The Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) has published its own-initiative report on the Gender Equality Strategy 2025. The report, scheduled for plenary vote on 11 November, outlines Parliament’s position and recommendations for the future of EU gender policy ahead of the next European Gender Equality Strategy 2025-2030, set to be published by the Commission in early 2026.
The report calls for the inclusion of both legislative and non-legislative measures in the new framework. Among other elements, the report calls for gender equality to be embedded in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, with gender-responsive budgeting applied across EU programmes. It urges the Commission and Member States to ensure that EU funds actively support the reduction of gender gaps, particularly in employment, care and education, and to report regularly on progress achieved.
Additionally, the report proposes to develop the European Care Strategy into a European Care Deal equipped with tools for investing in and ensuring universal access to affordable and high-quality childcare, educational after-school programmes and long-term care services.
SGI Europe welcomes the European Parliament’s recognition of the role of social partners in achieving gender equality in the labour market, highlighting the need to strengthen collective bargaining and social dialogue as key instruments to promote equal pay, improve work-life balance, and address gender-based discrimination in the workplace.
We share the ambition of creating inclusive labour markets and recognise the essential role of care, education, and social services in achieving these goals. SGI Europe emphasises the need to translate this ambition into effective implementation, consolidating existing EU legislation, supporting capacity-building, and strengthening the role of social partners to ensure that gender equality policies are effective, proportionate, and adapted to diverse national and sectoral contexts.
More about SGI Europe position here: Opinion paper on Gender Equality post-2025.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On Friday 31 October, SGI Europe took part in the event “Labour Market and Foreign Workers in Italy and in Puglia”, hosted at CGIL Puglia’s premises in Bari within the framework of the EU-funded LABOUR-INT III project. Organised by Fondazione SMILE Puglia, the event gathered EU-level social partners, institutional representatives, civil society organisations and migrant community stakeholders.
At the heart of the discussion was the presentation of the Study of the Labour Market in Puglia, delivered during the first year of project implementation. Developed by Italian partner organisations, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the regional labour market, outlining both the contribution of migrant workers and the persistent challenges they face. It examines key employment trends, the sectors most reliant on migrant labour, and the perceptions and structural issues that affect socio-occupational inclusion. By offering evidence-based insights, the report aims to inform public debate and support the design of more effective policies that recognise foreign workers as an essential asset for the future of both Puglia’s and Italy’s labour markets.
SGI Europe emphasised that the study reaffirms the importance of a partnership-based approach to labour market integration. Coordinated action among public authorities, social partners, training providers and employers is crucial to move beyond fragmented initiatives and to build stable and protected employment pathways for third-country nationals.
The findings will support the development of training and placement measures in Puglia and may serve as an example for similar initiatives in other regions.
Contact: Cecilia Martin
On 28 October, the SGI Europe Sustainability Board adopted via written procedure its cross-sectoral Reaction Paper on the EU Water Resilience Strategy (EUWRS), welcoming the European Commission's initiative as a step forward but highlighting a critical shortcoming: the failure to provide concrete, decisive action on pollution at the source. SGI Europe emphasises that the strategy places too much focus on "end-of-pipe" and technology-based solutions, overlooking the necessary stronger prevention measures.
The paper outlines key political measures to ensure a sustainable, high-quality water supply through the EU Water Resilience Strategy (EUWRS). SGI Europe stresses that prevention, rather than remediation, must be the focus. Strict enforcement of the “Polluter-Pays” Principle would require sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture to fully cover the costs of their pollution.
In line with this approach, the organisation calls for a comprehensive ban on all PFAS, including Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), as the only scientifically and economically sound way to stop persistent contaminants at the source. Reinforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive is also crucial to fund infrastructure upgrades and ensure polluters bear their costs.
To be effective, the EUWRS must improve legislative coherence, aligning water policy with environmental, agricultural, and chemical laws. Making REACH more future proof by regulating chemicals based on hazard properties will help avoid regrettable substitutions. SGI Europe also warns against modelling water policy on the energy sector, highlighting water’s uniquely local, variable, and irreplaceable nature.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has released a Special Report assessing how the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has supported efforts to improve the business environment across Member States. Established in 2021 with a budget of €650 billion, the RRF aims to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and drive a sustainable recovery. Access to funding was conditioned on Member States implementing reforms and investments in key areas, including those linked to a more favourable business environment.
In the years preceding the pandemic, the EU had issued over 80 country-specific recommendations to improve business conditions, ranging from better access to finance and tax system simplification to encouraging private investment and reducing regulatory burdens. As a result, all national recovery and resilience plans included related measures, amounting to 157 reforms and 254 investments.
According to the ECA, RRF interventions only partially addressed the challenges identified. Most reforms experienced delays, and while Member States tackled roughly a quarter of the recommendations, none were fully implemented. Around half of the recommendations were only marginally addressed or not addressed at all.
With all RRF measures required to be finalised by the end of August 2026, the report warns that continued delays could jeopardise the completion of reforms and the achievement of their intended outcomes.
Contact: Raquel Carro - Andollo
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