CONCLUSIONS: SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN EUROPE, A DIVERSITY OF INITIATIVES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

The common definition proposed by the network can be found in the introduction to this book. The national chapters presented in this volume demonstrate that in all the European member states there are organisations fitting the definition, and support the claim that social enterprises represent a common feature of the European social and economic environment. Although not yet in use in legal texts or other official documents in most countries, the expression “social enterprise” is a useful synthesis for several terms in use at national level, such as “social economic enterprises” in Austria, “socially-aimed enterprises” in Belgium, “cooperatives with social aims” in Spain, “social co-operatives” in Italy and Portugal. The theoretical chapters present and discuss some explanations for the emergence of social enterprises, by taking into account and adapting the more widespread theoretical explanations for the existence of non-profit organisations. In this concluding chapter, we summarise the main results of the research, and focus on: the fields of activities in which social enterprises are engaged; the explanation for their emergence; the main differences among countries; the main contributions of social enterprises to European economies and societies; their weaknesses and the barriers to their development. We conclude by reviewing the development prospects and policy implications for social enterprises. These are also issues that seem to rank high on the political agenda of the European Commission.

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