ETHICAL AND SOLIDARITY-BASED INITIATIVES: UNLOCKING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR A SUSTAINABLY INCLUSIVE SOCIETY

Seminar: " Ethical and solidarity-based initiatives : unlocking their potential for a sustainably inclusive society", 29-30 November 2007, Trento, Italy This seminar has a threefold aim: a. To reflect the results of the year's work of the two European pilot projects started in 2007 i.e.; “Authorities with responsibility for social cohesion” and “the Multipartite Social Contract for the reintegration of vulnerable groups”. Where the responsible authorities are concerned, the aim will be to present the results of the method for renewing synergies between public authorities and citizens as well as the more direct involvement of citizens in combating exclusion through ethical and solidarity-based activities. Where the Multipartite Social Contract (MSC) is concerned, the results, especially in connection with over-indebted persons, will be presented and a description will be given of the extension of the proposed approach to other integration paths, and particularly to the long-term unemployed. These experiments lead to new forms of contribution by authorities and ethical and solidarity-based initiatives to anti-exclusion strategies, particularly national action programmes for inclusion and other experiments initiated in countries non-members of the European Union but members of the Council of Europe. b. To consider the strengthening of the ethical and solidarity-based economy as a means of combating exclusion, while exploring the synergies and potentially complementary aspects of the various families of ethical and solidarity-based initiatives to construct a shared vision of their contribution to the fight against poverty. In the first part of the session, working groups will be set up, each dealing with one of three themes, namely: i. Ethical finance and social integration enterprises based on economic solidarity; ii. Local production and fair trade with a view to a cohesive society; and iii. Responsible consumption as a tool for creating a cohesive society. The second part will then deal with citizens' responsibilities and solidarity in today's world. The discussion about the tools and prospects of citizen solidarity will be interlinked with a presentation of the concept of well-being for all and of the social cohesion indicators built up by citizens, so as to explore the links and make this concept a fundamental instrument of social inclusion. c. To consider increasing citizens’ responsibility, during discussions in four interest groups: i. Social integration enterprises in European regulations; ii. Creation of a European label for ethical and alternative finance; iii. Structuring and strengthening responsible consumption networks: objectives, visions, tools; and iv. Fair trade: an environmental force for social cohesion, next steps to improve conformity and advocacy. The aim is to study in greater detail, and to come up with responses to, the cross-cutting theme of integrating those who are most vulnerable through ethical and solidarity-based initiatives. PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME: THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2007 9.30 - 10.00 Opening session ENG FR IT Welcome by: ● Lorenzo Dallai, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento ● Gilda Farrell, acting Head of the Social Policy Department, Head of the Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe 10.00-10.30 Introduction ENG FR IT Description of the objectives of the seminar: - To gain an insight into complementary aspects and improve their effectiveness, so as to make the solidarity-based economy one of the keys to an inclusive society in terms of (i) public policy and (ii) the networks within civil society working to combat poverty and social exclusion Speakers: ● Gilda Farrell, acting Head of the Social Policy Department, Head of the Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe ● Christine Gent, president of IRIS (European Inter-Network of Ethical and Responsible Initiatives) 10.30-13.00 SESSION 1 ENG FR IT WORKING TOGETHER AND DEVELOPING SYNERGIES Objectives: - to reflect the results of the year's work in the areas concerned and among the vulnerable groups; - in relation to the authorities with responsibility for social inclusion/cohesion and sustainable development: to define methods of (i) creating synergies, (ii) getting citizens to accept responsibility and (iii) coordinating ethical and solidarity-based activities; - in relation to the MSC (Multipartite Social Contract): to (i) define the well-being of the overindebted Strasbourg residents involved in the MSC pilot project and (ii) present and examine the way of opening the proposed approach to other integration paths; - to consider and discuss the scope for working together in future. A. Authorities with responsibility: "There is no worse form of alienation than failure to exercise responsibility" (the people of Mulhouse) Speakers from: ● Trento (Italy) Andrea Ferrandi, coordinator of the project ● Paris and the Ile-de-France region (France) Muriel Rochut, coordinator of the project Matthieur Grosset, local authority ● Timisoara (Romania) Maria Stoianov, Executive Director, local Council Mihaela Vetan, coordinator of the project ● Mulhouse (France) Sèbastien Houssin, coordinator of the project Moderators Anne-Elisabeth Reeb, Mulhouse (France) Samuel Thirion, Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe B. Multipartite Social Contract (MSC) for overindebted persons: "Enjoying life without wanting more and more" (beneficiary partners) Benefits and limitations of the process: ● Jean-Louis Kiehl, CRESUS Strasbourg (France) ● Thomas Garcia, Colecosol Strasbourg (France) ● Salvatore Vetro, ENSIE/IRIS (Belgium) ● Josèphine Bapst, beneficiary partner, Strasbourg (France) Dominique Viceconte, beneficiary partner, Strasbourg (France) Extension of the MSC to other vulnerable groups: Long-term unemployed persons, Jean-Louis Kiehl, CRESUS Strasbourg (France) Moderator: Jacqueline Roberts, Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe 14.30-19.30 SESSION 2 14.30-17.00 GROUP DISCUSSIONS ON THREE DIFFERENT THEMES Objectives - to strengthen the ethical and solidarity-based economy as a means of combating exclusion; - to explore the synergies and potentially complementary aspects of the various families of ethical and solidarity-based initiatives (ethical and responsible finance, socioeconomic integration, responsible consumption) so as to make the solidarity-based economy one of the keys to an inclusive society. Division into groups on three different themes GROUP 1 ENG FR Ethical finance and social integration enterprises based on economic solidarity: approaches with a view to a cohesive society Objectives: - to examine ethical and alternative banks' financial tools in relation to the needs of social integration enterprises; - to identify the specific needs not being met; - to explore new proposals and paths for action. Speakers: ● Jacques Pierre, head of SIFA, member of the board of FEBEA (France); ● Jaume Oller Rosell, official in charge of the risk capital programme, Un Sol Món foundation (Spain); ● Truda Ann Smith, managing director of BAG Arbeit e.V. (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Arbeit e.V.), who also chairs ENSIE (Germany); ● Sally Reynolds, chief executive of Social Firms UK (a national body offering support for the development of social integration enterprises in the United Kingdom), a member of ENSIE; ● Florica Chereches, Integra, a member of INAISE (Romania) ● Leena Veikkola, Takuu Säätiö Foundation, a member of INAISE (Finland) Moderator: Salvatore Vetro, administrative officer in the RES Network (a network of social integration enterprises), member of ENSIE/IRIS (Belgium) Chairmanship, conclusions and future work diary: Fabio Salviato, Banca Etica (Italy) Rapporteurs: Patrizia Bussi (INSIE/IRIS) and Viviane Vandemeulebroucke (INAISE/IRIS) GROUP 2 ENG FR IT Local production and fair trade with a view to a cohesive society Objectives: - to give thought to, and make proposals on, the links between and complementary nature of two approaches: the Fair Trade movement and the responsible local partnerships between small producers in difficulty and consumers organised by AMAPs (Associations supporting small-scale farming) in France and designated CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) in English-speaking countries; - to study ways of reconciling the contradictions between the two approaches, which, although their objective is the same (to ensure that small producers earn a fair income through regular sales of their products), may seem to diverge in terms of certain aspects, such as the effort to achieve North-South solidarity (fair trade) as opposed to the aim of local food sovereignty and a reduction in the environmental impact of consumption (AMAPs/CSA); - to intensify the links between fair trade, local food sovereignty and long-distance solidarity; - to open up fields of study relating to subjects of common interest, such as the ecological and social footprint and distribution networks: i. Fair trade as a lever for changing trade in general; ii. Showing the ecological and social footprint on fair trade products so as to set an example to traders in general; iii. Planning common retail outlets: sale of AMAP products in fair trade shops and sale of fair trade products by AMAPs, etc. Speakers: Elisabeth Atangana, PROPAC (Cameroon) Carola Reintjes, Chair IFAT Europe (Spain) Nami Kawamura, People Tree (UK/Japan) Daniel Vuillon, Urgenci/IRIS (France) Abdou Salam Fall, RIPESS Luca Gioelli, Libero Mondo (Italy) Andrea Calori, Politecnico di Milano (Italy) Moderators JèrÃÂ´me Dehondt, Urgenci/IRIS (France) Samuel Thirion, Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe Rapporteur: Joseph Richard, Urgenci/IRIS(France) GROUP 3 ENG FR Responsible consumption as a tool for creating a cohesive society Objectives: - to define the links between responsible consumption and the fight against poverty and social exclusion, with a view to an inclusive society, while taking account of numerous dimensions (environmental, social and political); - to define the relations between consumption and poverty, exclusion and human rights; - to highlight the links between consumption and protection of the environment and sustainable development; - to examine the role of public authorities as promoters of change; - to consider the development of the potential of the ordinary citizen: from mere consumer to consumer who thinks carefully before taking decisions. Speakers: Andrea Saroldi, Gruppi d’acquisto solidale (GAS) (Italy) Georgi Toshev, BNAP-Bulgarian National Consumers Association (Bulgarie) Jean Huet, Artisans du Monde, Paris (France) Moderator: Renè Kalfa, co-ordinator and leader of NEPIM (Network for the promotion of the internal market in European regions through consumer topics)/VSZ (Verbraucherschutzzentrale VoG " Objective: “Consumption-conscious and well-informed consumers within the framework of sustainability”) (Belgium) Rapporteur: Mireille Andries, "Solidaritès des alternatives wallones et bruxelloises" network, Brussels (Belgium) 17.30-19.30 Plenary session ENG FR IT CITIZENS' RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOLIDARITY IN TODAY'S WORLD Objectives: - to discuss the tools and prospects of citizen solidarity; - to present the concept of well-being for all and the advantages in the fight against poverty and exclusion of the social cohesion indicators built up by citizens; - to identify and intensify links in order to make the concept of well-being for all a fundamental instrument of social inclusion. Speakers: Mariana Antohi, IRIS Strasbourg (France) ● Andrea Saroldi, Gruppi d’acquisto solidale (GAS) (Italy) Maria Rosa Cutillo, Mani Tese (Italy) Fabrizia Paloscia, Fabrica Etica, (Italy) Luigi Badiali, Euro*IDEES (Belgium) Moderator: Gilda Farrell, acting Head of the Social Policy Department, Head of the Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2007 09.00-13.00 SESSION 3 : MAKING CITIZENS MORE RESPONSIBLE 09.00-11.00 DISCUSSION IN INTEREST GROUPS Group 1 FR ENG Social integration enterprises in European regulations (ENSIE/IRIS) - inventory of the consultations on state assistance started by the Commission; - state assistance and social integration enterprises in Spain; - state assistance and social integration enterprises in Flanders. Speakers: ● Patrizia Bussi (ENSIE/IRIS) ● Ricardo Fernandez (ENSIE/ACEI) ● Katrien Van Den Broucke (ENSIE/SST) Moderator: Truda Ann Smith (ENSIE/BAG Arbeit e.V.) Group 2 FR ENG Creation of a European label for ethical and alternative finance (FEBEA/INAISE/IRIS) Objectives: - to present a number of plans for a responsible finance label, experiments and studies, discussions, preliminary drafts and practical action (FINANSOL, FINEUROSOL, FETS Network - Spain, VALORE SOCIALE - Italy, the case of Poland); - to open a debate about the impact on the development of the sector of various regulatory, fiscal and legislative measures; - to give thought to possible convergence at European level. Speakers: Guillaume Lègaut, director of Finansol (France) Jacky Blanc, chairman of the NEF board of management, founder member of Finansol, member of the board of FEBEA and a member of INAISE (France) Bernard Bayot, general manager of the RFA (an alternative finance network), a member of INAISE (Belgium) Isabelle Lohisse, secretary general of FEBEA- Europe (Belgium) Wlodzimierz Grudzinski, vice-chairman of the Polish Banks Association, former chairman of BISE S.A (Bank for Socioeconomic Initiatives) Jordi Mari, director of the FETS (Ethical and Solidarity-Based Finance) Network, Spain Ugo Biggeri, Vice-President, Valore Sociale (Italy) Moderator: Karol Sachs, president of FEBEA-Europe, a member of the board of IRIS To be chaired by: Representatives of FEBEA and INAISE Group 3 FR IT Structuring and strengthening responsible consumption networks: objectives, visions, tools (URGENCI/ASECO) Speakers: Pia Valota, coordinator Aseco/IRIS (Italy) Renè Kalfa, NEPIM (Belgium) Mireille Andries, "Solidaritès des alternatives wallones et bruxelloises", Brussels (Belgium) Vincent Commenne, "Rèseau de consommateurs responsables asbl" (Responsible consumers network) (Belgium) Monica Di Sisto, Fair/Rete Lilliput (Italy) Moderators Daniel Vuillon, Urgenci/IRIS (France) Samuel Thirion, Social Cohesion Development Division, Directorate General of Social Cohesion, Council of Europe Group 4 ENG IT Fair trade (IFAT/IRIS): an environmental force for social cohesion, next steps to improve conformity and advocacy Objectives: - to examine the environmental impact of fair trade, - to clarify the benefits that are solely environmental and take up the challenges, - to point the way forward to promote the environmental position of fair trade. Speakers: ● Marco Klemmt, NEWS campaign (Germany) ● Carola Rientjes, chair of IFAT Europe (Spain) Moderator: Giorgio Dal Fiume, CTM Altromercato, Bologna (Italy) 11.30-13.00 FINDINGS OF THE WORKING GROUPS ENG FR IT Objectives: - to provide responses on the theme of "Integrating those who are most vulnerable through ethical and solidarity-based initiatives"; - to present the findings of the working groups on the basis of a predefined grid: frameworks, concepts, methods and strategies for taking up the challenge. 13.00-14.00 CONCLUSIONS ENG FR IT THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD ● European Inter-Network of Ethical and Responsible Initiatives (IRIS) ● Council of Europe ● European Commission