On November 16, Angela Achiţei, President of Close to You Foundation, spoke at the European Social Summit 2017 that took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, representing 3150 work integration social enterprises present in the ENSIE network. The topic addressed in the European Social Summit refers to the role of the social economy in the future of jobs.

EU Social Summit proclaims European Pillar of Social Rights, first announced by President Juncker. President Juncker and Swedish Prime Minister Löfven jointly hosted EU leaders for the first EU Social Summit in 20 years. The Summit which took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, is a key milestone in the broader debate on the future of Europe, kicked off by the European Commission's White Paper and President Juncker's Roadmap for a More United, Stronger and More Democratic Union.

It provided a unique and timely opportunity to advance the social dimension of the European Union and its Member States and particularly to promote fair jobs and growth in the EU. At the Social Summit, the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission jointly proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was first announced by President Juncker in his 2015 State of the Union Address and presented by the Commission in April 2017. 

President Juncker said:" When I took office, one of the ten priorities I presented to the European Parliament was to put in place a foundation of minimum social rights, which we now call the European Pillar of Social Rights. It is a long list of intentions, beliefs, and principles. But I would not want the beautiful minds, who are numerous, to consider what we agreed upon is a poem. It is not a poem, it is a programme: a programme of principles first, a programme of action next."

This Commission has taken and continues to take action to modernize Europe’ social market economy and achieve a ‘social triple A’ for Europe. At the Press conference President Juncker underlined that several initiatives are still pending before the EU co-legislators: out of the 19 legal proposals put on the table to advance Social Europe, 12 still need to be adopted.

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