Social and Solidarity Economy in Greece
The Social and Solidarity Economy in Greece emerged through cooperative activities that were developed over the years; however, the legislation and political movements were settled very recently to drive their activity. The sector in Greece is in a very early stage compared to other European countries and most of the social organizations are of small size and recently established. In addition, most of the organizations operate at the neighborhood, local and regional levels, while only a minority nationally or internationally. Considering that they face highly challenging economic conditions regarding their start-up activities, financial sustainability, and market growth, there is an urgent need for supporting their skills development, networking, finance and enabling policies.
Social entrepreneurs and organizations perceive that a strong Social and Solidarity Economy is of high importance nowadays given the challenging economic and social landscape in the country. According to the Greece Social and Solidarity Economy Report (2017), Social and Solidarity Economy organizations contribute towards significant country’s challenges, such as poverty and unemployment and at the same time, they promote alternative business models with a view to the creation of sustainable social impact.
Finally, according to the same report, there is potential for Social and Solidarity Economy organizations in Greece to grow and expand in various sectors including tourism, energy, production, waste management, and social services.
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