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Eurozone inflation falls to two-year low, but Europeans still feel frustrated

21/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

Europeans have been overwhelmed by the impact of inflation over the past 12 months. The European Commission published ’'s Autumn Forecast in November, which highlights the dispersion of clouds and the espite falling below ’, growth seems stubbornly low.

Real EconomyIn this part of the ’, we ask whether businesses and consumers really see a drop in prices, and we look forward to how Europe’'s economic growth will develop in the coming months.

Despite the decline in inflation, food prices are rising

Annual inflation in ’ is among the lowest in the eurozone. The prices of energy, transportation and some raw materials have stabilized in recent months. But many customers and businesses don't see a drop in food prices.

Yacin Malkoç, manager of a Belgian grocery store, said that “ is more or less used in fruits and vegetables, especially strong products such as bananas, mushrooms or tomatoes. %There was an increase of 30’, ” said.

“In the past, fruit and vegetables could reach any budget, but today there is a significant decrease in the number of customers due to increasing prices.”

Food prices in ’ continued to rise in 2023’te. For example, in two years, there was an increase of 37 percent in eggs, 53 percent in potatoes and 75 percent in olive oil.

In recent months, however, these prices have risen more slowly. But will companies and households feel the difference in their wallets as European countries' anti-inflation measures come to an end?

European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni told Real Economy’ye: “According to our estimates, the rise in wages will catch up with inflation. And, of course, this will contribute to purchasing power, this will increase consumption, and the increase in consumption is the premise of restarting growth. So there is a bit of moderate optimism towards 2024’.

In terms of inflation, Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni says energy prices will play a major role.

The decline will continue at a lower pace for now, “ said. “I think there is a high probability that it will start again the growth that is absolutely necessary for our economy.”

Why are European companies so concerned about energy?

The cost and supply of energy remains a major concern for large industrial companies. Etex, a Belgium-based multinational company, needs a significant amount of energy to produce construction products.

The company's CEO, Bernard Delvaux, says inflation in energy costs is fueling the search for a more efficient alternative.

Everything about reducing “ consumption is clearly important, ” said. We have plans to reduce internal consumption by investing in more efficient technologies in our “160 factory.”

Annual energy inflation in the Eurozone ’ fell sharply, from 41.5 percent at the end of 2022 to -11.2 percent at the end of 2023.

However, due to the increase in interest rates, the costs of Etex’in increased and the demand for construction fell.

Bernard Delvaux, “Energy is two or three times more expensive than two years ago; This is also much more expensive than ’ in the United States, much more expensive than ’ in China, and much more expensive than ’ in the Maghreb. So why not produce in these countries? And then salaries are clearly higher because of inflation. What we're seeing is that production is becoming increasingly expensive in Europe’, he added.

But if the cost of energy is falling, can we expect more competitive prices in the near future? Energy geopolitics professor Adel El Gammal told Real Economy’ that this is all extremely uncertain“ due to a combination of many factors.

Adel El Gammal, “EuropeIn ’, we still source liquefied natural gas from pipelines and from ’, Russia. Therefore, a complete rupture can indeed put the markets under tension. And then, of course, the crisis in the Middle East’. It is easy to imagine that the prolongation of the conflict –, for example Iran or Saudi Arabia’'s greater integration could clearly disrupt the situation completely.– said.

‘This is a balancing action’: Probability of stagflation in the European ’

Adel, meanwhile, points out that according to IMF’, nearly half of the inflation over the past two years has been due to an increase in the profit margins of large companies that have benefited from the price increase.

Although inflation has fallen, the situation remains fragile.

However, it is difficult to return to the 2% “ inflation target. Trying to keep inflation at acceptable rates without going into a recession is a balancing act. Here we clearly see the rather serious specter of possible stagflation, which means economic decline with low economic growth or high inflation. Unfortunately, it is a risk we will face in the coming quarters.”

European Commission’nda Paolo GentiloniWe asked ’ye whether the slowdown in economic growth will continue next year.

“We have achieved near-zero growth at the end of the year. Next year, we forecast a slight recovery in growth, mostly due to the resumption of private consumption and at the same time a slightly better state of international trade. If this turns out to be true, we will be able to prevent a recession and achieve what we call a soft landing despite tight monetary policy. That would be great on its own. - ”

If Europe manages to mitigate the impact of the price crisis in the coming months, consumers will need to be patient and hope that the current geopolitical conflicts are resolved as soon as possible.

EuropeAggravating ’'s fuel poverty crisis

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

Millions of Europeans have to choose between eating and warming up in this winter, while Real Economy Bulgaria is increasingly seeing how EU funding is diverting their savings to other vital needs by providing warm food support to families.

The food or warm-up dilemma

More than 35 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes warm this winter. This is equivalent to Greece, Portugal, Hungary and Ireland, where the entire population in ’ decides between heating and putting food on the table.

Two main causes of fuel or energy poverty are living in buildings with low income and low energy efficiency.

In Europe, rising fuel prices and the ongoing pandemic in ’ in recent months have exacerbated the problem, making it more difficult for people to pay their bills.

The right to access basic services such as energy is included in the European Pillar of Social Rights, a guide to stronger social rights in the European Union.

The EU outlined measures it proposed countries should implement to keep fuel prices low, including emergency income support and tax cuts.

FranceIn ’, the number of people using food banks, such as Banques Alimentaires, partly funded by the European Fund for the Poorest, FEAD, has increased since the beginning of the pandemic. %Increased by more than 30’.

A similar picture is emerging across Europe at a time when people are struggling to pay food and rising energy bills.

BulgariaIn ’, more than a quarter of the population cannot afford to heat their homes; This is the highest level in Europe’, followed by Lithuania and Cyprus.

“, these are lentils and potatoes. I can't complain. I'll survive. - ”

In Bulgaria, temperatures regularly drop below zero during the winter months in ’. For the most vulnerable, especially those who can't afford to heat up, finding money to heat someone's home can be a major concern.

Insufficiently insulated buildings, low incomes and rising energy prices are the main causes of energy poverty.

Kocherinovo is a small mountain village in the west of the country. Nikola, 71, lives there alone. receives a small pension of around 150 euros per month; That's about half the minimum wage. Nikola receives a government-paid energy allowance, with which he can buy wood for his stove.

“I bought 520 leva for the firewood in October, this is for the whole winter. Five cubic meters for 500 leva. I bought eight and paid for the rest out of my own pocket. One cubic meter was 75 leva, now 90 lev, 15 lev more.”

Rising energy prices have had a significant impact on Nikola’'s budget. Even if he gets medical help and receives a Covid bonus for retirees, he has a hard time paying his bills, medicines, and food.

European FEAD fund

“A hot lunch for the soulThanks to the program called ”, Nikola eats hot food every day; which means he won't have to make an impossible choice between choosing to eat or warming up at home. The initiative is funded by FEAD, the European ’'s Poorest Relief Fund.

In 2020, more than 15 million Europeans such as Nikola benefited from food aid thanks to the European FEAD fund.

Sixty-two-year-old Evelina also lives in the same village and has a hot lunch for “ruh, a hot meal from ” every day.

Although he is disabled, he takes care of his parents alone. Their pensions are not enough to cover the family's expenses, so they benefit from various government benefits that allow them to make a living.

“I'm getting help with food and warm-ups, and there's also an assistant who's coming to help me. Much better, at least I don't have to cook anymore. - ”

Evelina was able to save some money by buying a more energy-efficient stove. It burns pellets instead of wood.

The energy price is a significant part of the cost of living in ’, Bulgaria, especially for the poorest households. In 2018 ’ represented about 16% of expenditures, while in Sweden ’ average energy costs were around 4%.

Working with and completing national measures to help the most vulnerable and energy-poor is a strategy of FEAD’. The hot food and bread offered relaxes family budgets, allowing people to channel their savings into other vital needs.

Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Accession at the European Commission, says such unified support is vital.

The food and basic material assistance provided through the “FEAD program, but also accompanied by national policies and national measures, has proven crucial for poor people to reduce the burden of personal income, keep their homes warm or buy the medicines the elderly need, maintain a balanced and reasonable life.

In the coming period, FEAD’'s work will continue with the support of the European Social Fund Plus’ and its budget will almost double.

The focal point is: Europe’'s energy crisis

To learn more about the current energy crisis, Real Economy met with Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Director of the Jacques Delors Energy Center.

According to Euronews: How can we be in a situation where millions of people in “ can't afford to heat their homes?’

Thomas Pellerin-Carlin: “This is the result of the choices we have made in the past to build an inefficient system based on fossil fuel use.

For this reason, we are in a situation where tens of millions of Europeans cannot heat their homes as they should.

And when we face the fossil fuel crisis and the shock from fossil fuel prices, it only gets worse.

According to Euronews: “Many European countries are taking relief measures. How much difference do they make?”

Thomas Pellerin-Carlin: “We know that the countries that do the best are in fact the countries where policies are implemented that explicitly encourage the transition to renewable energy and the transition to efficiency.

Energy poverty in Europe is at its worst south of ’, and that's a bit counterintuitive. The colder the country, the worse you might think energy poverty is, but in reality, the opposite is the case.

Because energy poverty is not the result of geography or nature, it is the result of political choices.

If Sweden is doing well now, it is not because of the current Swedish government, but because Sweden’ has been investing for 30 years in the renovation of homes and the development of renewable heating systems.”

According to Euronews: “What do you think should be done at the European level?”

Thomas Pellerin-Carlin: “There are three things for me: In our view at the Jacques Delors Institute ’, the European Green Deal, part of the ’, should be to ensure that every family can properly heat their home in the winter. First of all, it should be a political goal.

How do we apply this? The first is through regulation. This means that we require poorly insulated buildings to be refurbished when rented or sold.

The third is to provide funds to support such renovations, especially for the poorest countries, such as Bulgaria.

For this, the European Commission has received a nice proposal from ’ to create a social climate fund, and this will be an important step in the right direction.”

How is Europe financing the pandemic recovery with the sale of billions of dollars in bonds?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

This section of the Real Economy’ discusses what AB’'s recovery plans mean for jobs and businesses in Europe’ and how they are financed by the issuance of billions of euros in bonds.

EuropeProtection of employment in ’

Thanks to the European Commission's SURE initiative, which supports ’'s government's permission plans, an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 million businesses in Europe’ were able to employ their employees during the pandemic.

In 18 countries receiving SURE funding, it helped 25 to 30 million workers not lose their jobs during the pandemic.

SURE’'s goal was to protect jobs during the crisis. The next step is AB’'s recovery plan, known as the Next Generation EU, which is scheduled to be implemented in the coming weeks.

How are AB’'s rescue packages funded?

AB’'s SURE and NextGenerationEU rescue packages help countries build more resilient economies after the COVID-19 pandemic.

To finance them, the European Union will issue bonds of up to 850 billion euros (900 billion euros at current prices) over the next 5 years. Debt at the European level means that the economies of all EU countries benefit.

This is the first time the EU has borrowed on such a large scale, making it the new major player in the government bond market.

This also helps to support the euro's international position.

AB’'s high credit rating and ability to guarantee debt mean investors are safer when buying EU bonds. These include social and green bonds; This means that the funds really serve a social or green goal and will be repaid by 2058.

How do recovery packages help businesses?

Slovenia is one of 18 countries that have benefited from the SURE fund and receives 1.1 billion euros as an emergency loan.

In 2010, after living in ’, Greg Yurkovich returned to his hometown of ’, Slovenia, to open two pizza restaurants in the capital Ljubljana’.

A year after the opening of his second restaurant, Greg’in had thirty staff; Then the epidemic broke out, and the first lockdown forced its employees to stay home for six weeks.

Greg wanted to retain his team and skills for as long as possible.

Greg Yurkovich, general manager and executive chief of Pop’s Place’, “The thing is, we had to employ these people for a variety of reasons. Again, it's our obligation, but also in the event that we open up. What happens if these people are released? How do we ensure the continuity of the work? said ”.

The Slovenian government, in part thanks to AB’'s SURE program, has provided subsidies to employers like Greg to keep their employees on payroll until they are reopened.

**
Investors' interest in EU bonds**

Guillaume Menuet, a leading eurozone economist at Citigroup’, explained how this could work.

“ For every euro we spend, we hope we can get two, three, four euros back in five or ten years, depending on investment preferences.

“ This loan will naturally be paid out through increased economic growth, but also through the new forms of taxation that AB’ is currently bringing up.

We will wait and see what the next EU budget will bring, “ added, before worrying about it.

Interview with Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Budget and Management.

Naomi Lloyd of Real Economy’ spoke to Commissioner Hahn’ about his recovery plans and started by asking him when he thought the commission would start borrowing for the fund.

“Biz is ready at the beginning of June from our own perspective. And hopefully, so far there's nothing pushing this as a goal, we can start opening up to capital markets at the beginning of the second term, ” said.

About the challenges ahead

When asked about possible difficulties with the timeline, the German court ruled that it was unconstitutional, and Poland threatened not to ratify it.

Hahn, “, I'm pretty sure this will be approved by Karlsruhe, too, –, but first of all, it's important that they lift their reservations. I'm also sure this will be done on time. If you're in politics, you have to be optimistic, and I'm usually right about that, ” said.

About Next Generation AB’ye investor interest

Hahn, “As a result, there was a great deal of interest and there is a great deal of interest because they also see euro’yu and the European Union’ni as a safe asset, a safe haven. And at times like this, it's very important. There is also a strong interest in creating an alternative to the dollar, apparently not in a competitive way, but in a way that really has alternatives, ” added.

On the impact of Euro’ on the international world

I think the “ effect will be huge. That is, we will issue at least 800 billion in euro-denominated bonds, and this is a size we have never done in the past, and this will certainly have a huge impact on the role of the euro. It will also strengthen the euro as a real alternative currency in the worldwide capital market. That's why it also has a very strong economic but also political influence. - ”

Economy of Gig: Flexible freedom or wage slavery?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

If you've used an app to order late-night food delivery or call a plumber, you've probably benefited from the platform's economy. This is one of the most important new transformations in the business world. And right now the biggest discussion in Europe’ is on working conditions.

Digital platform studies, also known as gig economy, have increased five-fold in the last decade.

It is where individuals offer specific services organized through a digital platform that connects them with customers.

This can be a location-based app that allocates jobs such as food delivery, taxi or plumbing services, or web-based platforms that outsource jobs such as translation or graphic design.

Platforms create new business opportunities. But there are challenges in ensuring good working conditions and algorithms treat workers fairly.

‘Concert economics’ or ‘platform studyHow has ’ grown over the past decade?

The platform works: To edit or not to edit?

This new model of platform work has left governments undecided on how to regulate it. Spain became the first EU country to pass a law classifying food delivery passengers as employees with social protection.

Fanny Gauret went to meet some food distributors in Barcelona’ to get their opinion.

Fanny met two young deliverymen who knew the streets of Barcelona by heart, one carrying food or packages on a scooter and the other on a bicycle. Both are self-employed and their situation is expected to change in the coming months.

The new law, submitted to the Council of Ministers, will classify all passengers working on distribution platforms as employees. They will have access to benefits such as unemployment benefits, vacation or sick leave. It was a relief for this young South American rider who wanted to keep his name a secret.

The self-employed driver, who did not give his name, explains: “What the government recommends to these companies is that they give us minimum wage, sick leave, life insurance, and a tool so that we can work properly.” “Because sometimes we work up to 12 hours a day to get less than the minimum wage.”

This young man is paid by delivery according to the prices set by the platform. He says that because he can't afford to buy a motorcycle, the fact that he works on a bicycle is a big disadvantage.

“I've never earned €1,000 a month. It's hard to do that on a bike. Because you have to work long hours, it's exhausting. If you do not connect to the platform, do something wrong, cancel many orders, they will cancel your account.”

Minimum wage, work accident insurance or checking for profile cancellations are what many drivers are hoping for with this law.

“Freedom and flexibility”

Spain’ already has some delivery platforms that use the fee model. But Jordi Mateo, who works 40 to 50 hours a week, prefers to remain independent:

Mateo, “When I look at what competitor companies are doing with employees, I think I'll have a 15- or 20-hour contract, which will hurt a lot, on the one hand, the freedom and flexibility I have today, as well as my income, which will greatly decrease, ” says.

Working on a scooter for various platforms, Spain is pleased to earn more than ’'s minimum wage (around €1,100 gross per month). However, it will welcome improvements such as being able to set its own prices.

What most freelancers believe is that we need reinforcements in our protections, but we don't have to resort to a contract that shows, as our experience tells us, that the government will make us precarious and unable to protect us as it tries to make us believe, insists “ Mateo.

This complex situation reflects the huge diversity in the profiles of people who use digital platforms to find customers in industries such as transportation, home services and online services.

Opening up to the job market

Laura is a graphic designer. After losing his job due to the health crisis, he turned to a platform that directly connected him to a wide variety of customers.

Laura Cardenas Corrales summarizes: You sign up for “Platform, create your profile, set your rate, hours, and availability.” “For me, this change is positive because it gives me the freedom to dedicate the hours I want to dedicate and do the projects I really love. I believe that platforms like this will help you expand into the job market.”

While more social protection is needed for some of these workers, the flexible work schedule and hours model is supported by others, including digital platforms defending their own models. According to the International Labour Organization, Europe earns just under 4 billion euros per year in ’.

So how can compliance with labor laws and quality of work be ensured? With the pandemic and the explosion in home deliveries, discussions intensified.

Brussels’den view

The European Commission has launched a consultation to improve the protection of workers on digital platforms, inviting unions and employers' organisations to reach an agreement. If they fail to do so, the Commission will draft legislation by the end of 2021.

EU Commission Director-General for Employment Joost Korte explains: “This highly promising sector has many good dimensions, such as a better work-life balance for people, greater flexibility, access to the labor market for people who are sometimes under very difficult conditions.”

“But it needs to be a sustainable model on which this is based. Otherwise, we would arrive at different solutions in different member countries, which would be negative in the context of the single market, ” adds.

For more information on this topic, Naomi Lloyd spoke to one of the Senior Economists at the International Labour Organization ’, the United Nations agency that sets international labour standards.

Naomi Lloyd – at Euronews

“European CommissionLet's start with the consultations of ’; Is this something you like? ”

Uma Rani – Senior Economist, ILO

“We must not forget that digital work platforms operate across borders, so the EU regulatory framework that will come out at the end of this year will be a very good step forward in improving the lives and working conditions of workers and platforms.”

Naomi Lloyd – at Euronews

We saw the driver there in Fanny’'s report saying that if he turns down any work, he'll be penalized by the algorithms, –, is that something you've come across a lot?

Uma Rani – Senior Economist, ILO

This is the experience of many employees on these platforms. Platforms actually use algorithmic management practices in allocating work and rewarding work, monitoring the entire process of work. If you start refusing to work, if you don't get up to speed, it will punish you.

Naomi Lloyd – at Euronews

But there we found that not all passengers actually wanted to be employees; Many enjoy the flexibility of working at the hours they want.

Uma Rani – Senior Economist, ILO

I think the reason why this driver wants to work very long hours is because of the gamification process these platforms have. That's why they have so many bonuses and incentives.

Then after a while, the amount of work you get really decreases, the pay you get goes down, and that's where the frustration comes in.

Naomi Lloyd – at Euronews

However, people from many sectors prefer to be self-employed; What is the problem with the platform?

Uma Rani – Senior Economist, ILO

The problem arises when being self-employed becomes the secret self-employment, where you are an employee, but you are asked to be self-employed and enjoy no benefits. There's no regulation. So they self-regulate and decide what the status of the worker is, what the price of a car or the price of a task is, which becomes very problematic.

Europe Race to prevent ’'s young and unemployed from becoming the missing generation of ‘

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

As Europe's economy shrinks following the coronavirus pandemic, youth unemployment is on the rise. There are currently 3.1 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who cannot find a job.

The number of NEET’s (not in education, employment and teaching) aged 15-29, including those who are not actively looking for work, is 9.6 million.

Nicolas Schmit, EU ’'s Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, said they were determined to prevent the same impact on young people in the wake of the financial crisis.

“We are just coming out of an era where we are experiencing a lost generation due to the financial and subsequent economic crisis, ” says: We must get ahead of the new lost generation. - “

Solutions in Europe

The European Commission has adopted the Programme for Supporting Young Employment, with an investment of at least 22 billion euros over the next seven years. This follows an investment of 22 billion euros over the past seven years to recruit young people through vocational training and apprenticeships.

Tremplin is a programme funded by the European Social Fund in the Brussels region. The fund has a budget of 18 million Euro’, 10,000 people aged 18-25 benefited from this fund for 7 years.

The case of Baggio’

25-year-old Baggio used to be an electrician. But now he has completed Tremplin training to become a roofer. He has an employment contract for young people and hopes that this new profession will increase his income. Roofing is in demand in his area, so he says he's sure to get a job.

In addition to Baggio’'s new positive employment opportunities, he also enjoys work. He called us “, a really meticulous and frankly enjoyable job.

The trial of Gamze ’nin

One of the winners of the Tremplin program is 19-year-old Gamze. After 4 months of training, he is currently doing an internship in a store he bought. He says he graduated from middle school last year and doesn't know what to do. That caused him a lot of anxiety.

After the pandemic emerged, more stores began to digitize and e-commerce grew. He says that's what pushed him into this area. During her internship, online learns how to manage sales, manage stocks, orders, and social media. He even arranged a job interview.

The number of job seekers under the age of 25 in the Brussels region increased by almost 8 percent compared to last year, while the youth unemployment rate reached 25 ’ percent. But Gamze and Baggio say they still have new hopes that their professional dreams can come true.

The Young Employment Support package (YES), funded by the European Social Fund+ and other EU funds, includes a guarantee that everyone enrolled will receive a job, apprenticeship, education or training offer within four months.

“This crisis is different, the response to the crisis is very different. This time we have a big program to invest, recover, create jobs and accompany these transitions in the green economy, ”.

Nicolas Schmit

AB’'s Commissioner for Labour and Social Rights

Financial investment in education

The EU plans to invest at least 22 billion euros to support youth employment, but some say that's not enough. Guntram Wolff is an economist and director of the Bruegel think tank. He says he wants to see more done. According to him, “You also need national support for the younger generation. The sad truth is that youth unemployment doesn't go down that quickly, ”.

It compares the pandemic to the recent financial crisis, in which it took 5 to 10 years to return to levels of youth unemployment in 2009’. For him, “, the issue of how youth was affected by the pandemic is something that policymakers should keep in mind.

“I have a lot of friends who are having a hard time finding work right now, ”.

Baggio Lorenzino

Newly trained roofer

Nicolas Schmit explains that 22 billion is a “ indicator figure. He tells us that it's not just 22 billion and that's it, “We currently have a lot of other funds through the Healing and Resilience Facility, so we should use most of that money to create jobs and also bring young people into those jobs, ”.

AB’'s Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights states that there is work to be done at AB’, but sometimes “ education profiles do not match the requirements of these jobs and therefore we need to react quickly. Maybe we should give these young people a little extra education, extra training, re-adjust to existing jobs, “ says.

The pandemic in Europe has exacerbated youth unemployment problems in ’. There are fewer job opportunities and young people are competing with the unemployed who have more experience. There's pressure not to leave an entire generation behind.

Europe’'s energy future: Russia Plans to Cut ’'s Fossil Fuels and Accelerate Green Transition

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

By increasing renewable energy, Europe has pledged to reduce ’'s dependence on fossil fuels by 2027. Moving away from oil and gas was a key goal even before the war in Ukraine, where AB’ aimed to become climate neutral by 2050. How realistic and affordable are the final plans?

Independence of energy

In addition to tackling climate change, Europe’ needs to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

The European Commission has prepared the action plan: Reinforce AB’– to end addiction by 2027. This includes scaling up and accelerating renewable energy.

It is estimated to cost 210 billion euros, with a large investment required. InvestEUAB’'s flagship investment programme comes into play.

Working in partnership with the European Investment BankAiming to reassure investors, AB’ has a 26 billion-euro guarantee. It is expected to generate over €370 billion in revenue from public and private sector financing.

Their investment focuses on four areas: sustainable investment, innovation, social inclusion and job creation. And the least of these %The 30’ of Europe needs to contribute to ’'s carbon neutrality.

Solar energy plan

Part of the REPowerEU plan is to double European ’'s solar capacity over the next two and a half years, and Spain is one of the countries where InvestEU’ funds its solar power plants.

There are as many solar panels as you can see between Valladolid and Salamanca. The region is home to seven solar parks built since 2020’, in part thanks to InvestEU’.

Solaria’'s Silvia Alonso Guijarro euronews’e said: “Spain is a great place to build these solar panels, solar plants because we are one of the countries with more sundials per year. These seven photovoltaic solar power plants have a capacity of 261 megawatts, which means they generate 477 gigawatts/hour of energy per year.”

This amount of energy is enough to supply electricity to more than 120,000 ’ households. The project was made possible thanks to the partnership between public and private investors, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been enabled to play an important role in providing this financing.

The total cost of the project was 189 million euros. The EIB put 54m euros on the table as a credit or guarantee mechanism, while providing 14m euros as an intermediary.

This meant that more than a third of the total cost of the project had already been covered, providing private investors with enough assurance to finance the remaining 89 million.

Fernando Torija, EIB’'s bureau chief at ’ in Spain, says such guarantees are vital.

“We are betting on the future of these companies. This is perhaps telling other investors who have invested in the company, whether they are financiers or stockholders, and putting the company on the map saying, okay, I kind of have a quality stamp from ‘EIB’.’

InvestEU’'s main goal was to lead a green and digital economic recovery. But the war in Ukraine’ and the sanctions imposed on Moscow’ mean that the capital will be directed directly to help end Europe’'s dependence on Russian gas and oil.

Solaria CEO Darío López Clemente said the company and EIB’ are working closely on plans to develop several more solar parks in ’, Spain.

“Our intention is to continue to develop projects. We are also working with the EIB for a larger financing and a larger project package. The crisis with Ukraine, I think, put the real needs of the European ’ on the table. We are absolutely dependent on other energy sources that we don't have at Avrupa’, and we need to be aware of how important energy is to us. And the only way to solve this situation is with renewable energy, because it's an emergency. – should not be in four or five years, it will be too late to develop all this power in a maximum of one or two years.”

The European Commission recently launched the REPowerEU plan, which also aims to overcome non-financial barriers such as administrative permits and mandates.

Naomi Lloyd of Real Economy’ spoke with European Union Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simpson to learn more about AB’'s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and gas.

Naomi Lloyd, euronews:

“RussiaIs it realistic to think that you can end ’'s dependence on fossil fuels by 2027?”

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson:

“We do our best to get rid of this addiction as quickly and quickly as possible. REPowerEU, Russia, is planning how we can replace ’'s imports with alternatives. We have reached out to several trusted trading partners. But that's not enough. We don't want to replace fossil fuels 100 percent with other fossil fuels. This means that we will replace natural gas with renewable sources wherever possible. In the construction sector, we will also prioritize electrification in transportation. And on top of that, we will prioritize saving.”

Naomi Lloyd, euronews:

You talk about ending the dependence on Russian fossil fuels, but you want to import oil and gas from other countries. Wouldn't that condemn us to new addictions?”

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson:

“We plan to replace only a third of Russia's imports with other fossil fuels. So yes, we will diversify our supply routes. In parallel, however, we are accelerating our own green transition. We will do this where we can replace fossil fuels with renewable energies.”

Naomi Lloyd, euronews:

Can you tell us about the plans to increase the acceleration of renewable energy under “REPowerEU?”

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson:

“There are some ways we can promote renewable energy very quickly, for example on roofs. So according to our proposal, all newly built buildings should have roof panels. The biggest bottleneck is allowing. Currently, it can take as long as seven years to get a permit for an offshore wind park. However, the European Commission has made a proposal that the ‘ public interest is a right that we call priority’. This significantly shortens the leave time.”

Naomi Lloyd, euronews:

“RussiaYou calculated that ending ’'s dependence on fossil fuels would cost 210 billion Euro’. Can Europe afford it? - ”

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson:

“In the past years, Russiaremembering that we pay about 100 billion euros each year for imports of oil, gas and coal to ’. Then it makes sense to change that dependency. We know that member states still have untapped bailout funds, so there are 225 billion worth of loans that member states can use for green projects. Financing is the key. InvestEU is a very useful tool at our disposal because we will be able to act approximately in the period 2020-27. 372 billion Euro.”

Ukrainians have the right to work in Europe’, but how difficult is it to find a job?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

The Ukrainians, who fled the war in ’'s countries, have the right to live and work in AB’ for up to three years.

This section of the ’ takes a look at the challenges Ukrainians may face when trying to find a job and asks the question: What does this refugee influx mean for Europe’'s workforce and economy?

Real Economy travels to ’, Austria, to hear the stories of two Ukrainian women who recently arrived with their children. We also ask Johannes Kopf’a AB’, head of the European Network of Public Employment Services, what he is doing to help Ukrainians find jobs.

Opportunities in the tourism sector

More than 40,000 Ukrainian refugees live in ’, Austria, with their children. A temporary residence permit allows these people to live and work in the country.

Natalia settled in the region of Carinthia in the south of the country, known for its mountains and lakes. Ukraine’da was a beautician. When he arrived at a local refugee centre, the hotel managers offered him accommodation and a job.

“I really like working here, says ”. “We signed a contract until September, then UkraineI will look at how the situation will develop in ’.”

There are currently around 60-70 people living here. And 29’u works for us in various departments: kitchen, restaurant, cleaning, construction services, child care. It's going pretty well. Of course there is a language barrier, but we can overcome it.

Alexandra Tiefenbacher

Director of Human Resources

AustriaThe tourism sector in ’ is growing rapidly, and since 2019’, the number of open jobs in the hospitality sector has doubled, many employers have not been able to find staff.

For manager Alexandra Tiefenbacher, it was an obvious choice to offer suitable rooms and vacancies for Ukrainian refugees for the summer season.

“Currently 60 to 70 people live here, says ”. “, and 29 of them ’u work for us in various departments: kitchen, restaurant, cleaning, construction services, child care. It's going pretty well. "Of course there is a language barrier, but we can overcome it." - ”

Natalia speaks a little English, which allows her to communicate with her colleagues. But it's hard to balance work commitments with the care of her 5-year-old daughter.

“Zor” says. There's a children's playroom here, but it closes at 4:30pm “. If I have a shift that ends at 11pm ’, I still have to find someone to babysit.

More than 7 million Ukrainians have left their country since the beginning of ’'s war in Ukraine, but an estimated 2 million have returned home. Mostly women and children.

They may face a variety of challenges in finding work, especially taking care of children and finding childcare or a school location. They may be experiencing severe trauma. Newcomers Ukrainians may not always speak the language of their new country and their qualifications may not be recognized.

Helping Ukrainians access jobs

To help with this, the EU provides language courses and training, as well as instructions in the Ukrainian language on how to access the job market.

The European Commission is helping EU employers understand and recognize qualifications in Ukraine’ and has translated Europass’ into Ukrainian’, where users create a resume for use across Europe.

It has also translated the EU Skills Profile Tool into Ukrainian. The tool helps map the skills, qualifications and work experience of refugees, migrants and non-EU nationals residing in AB’.

The European Commission is also launching a ‘AB Talent Pool’ to match the skills of Ukrainian refugees with open job positions.

Obstacles in other sectors

Austria’ does not have qualified personnel in other sectors such as health and informatics. However, although half of the Ukrainian refugees registered in the country have university degrees, these positions are difficult to access immediately.

Ganna Zhygun, a mother of three and a German teacher from Ukraine’, recently arrived in Vienna’.

“The most important thing for me was to find a school place for my three children, ” says. “Now that I've found this, I'm looking for a job.”

Ganna wants to work as a German teacher to help other refugees who do not speak the language, but her diploma is not recognized in ’, Austria.

“My training documents need to be translated, legally approved and recognized, ” explains. “This is a problem, it takes a long time.”

Ganna’ya, the staff of the business center established to help refugees in Vienna’, helps in this process.

In the business center, consultant Marjana Çelebi says “We accompany them to appointments. “We translate and help when needed. Our goal is to build an extensive network with all relevant partners so we can help as quickly as possible.”

I think we've learned a lot from previous waves of migration about what's really important for facilitating the transition to the labor market. And this is: language, education, recognition of qualifications. With all these elements in place, I think everyone can be welcomed.

Sandra Leitner

Senior economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

Ganna, meanwhile, receives a minimum wage and health insurance, just like other refugees registered in the Austrian ’.

The Vienna employment center is part of the Austrian Public Employment Service ’nin (AMS). Johannes Kopf, president of AMS’, is also head of AB’'s Public Employment Service network.

Real Economy’den spoke with Naomi Lloyd about how managing the influx of Ukrainian refugees at European level is an important priority.

He explained how countries support each other and share their experiences.

Share best practices

Kopf, “The subject came up only a few days after the start of this terrible war, says ”. When our Polish colleagues informed the network that the first Ukrainians were coming and would need help. This has led to a really big wave of solidarity in public employment services all over Europe.

“There are some countries: Sweden, Germany, Austria have gained a lot of experience in the refugee crisis in 2015/16 and beyond. For example, to organize the process of recognition of skills or how to organize individual skill mappings in their mother tongue.”

He explained that currently arriving refugees have special needs that are different from previous refugee crises.

“Most of those who come now are women with young children, and of course they have different needs. Most importantly, child care is needed. Austria’ needs to organize a sufficient number of places in schools, kindergartens, etc. The next step is to enter the job market.”

The European Network for Public Employment Services plays a key role in matching the skills of newly arrived Ukrainians with the needs of the labor market and has made clear its solidarity with Ukrainians and its commitment to supporting those fleeing the war.

Yes, it is better to integrate all these people instead of paying them outreach benefits. But first and foremost, this is a human problem.

Johannes Kopf

President, European Network for Public Employment Services

How can Europe overcome the challenge of successfully integrating Ukrainian refugees?

Real Economy posed the question to Sandra Leitner’e, an expert on migration movements at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies.

If it's just about labor market integration, not taking into account the cultural aspect and political response, I think we've learned a lot from previous waves of migration about what's important to facilitate the transition to the labor market, “ says.

“And these are: language, education, recognition of qualifications. I think anyone can be welcomed when all these elements are present.”

According to Johannes Kopf’, helping Ukrainians integrate means, above all, solidarity with refugees.

Asked how newcomers from Ukraine’ could help with skills and labor shortages at AB’, he replied:

“Of course, there are open positions and companies that really work hard to find skilled staff and hope to find IT professionals from, for example, Ukraine’. Oh, of course.

But I don't like to confuse asylum or refugee issues with the needs of the labor market. Yes, it is better to integrate all these people instead of paying them outreach benefits. But first and foremost, it is a human problem. - ”

Where does Europe get the money to host millions of Ukrainian refugees?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

An estimated 6 million Ukrainian refugees have fled across the border to neighbouring European countries since the start of ’'s war in Russia.

In this section of the Real Economy ’, we visit the Romanian ’ to see how the country is dealing with the large influx of Ukrainian refugees, and we talk with the Romanian Minister of Education about how they are helping refugee children to continue their education.

We also take a look at which EU funds help member states cope with the cost of this humanitarian emergency and ask if they are sufficient.

In a historic move, the EU has granted people fleeing the war in Ukraine’ the right to live and work in the European Union’ for up to three years.

In an effort to help EU governments, the EU has released several billion dollars of unused money into the regions of Europe’. This fund, known as the Adjustment Funds, also includes funding from the European Social Fund and the European Fund FEAD’, set up to help the poorest. These billions can now be spent on emergency assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

Prepared budget for peacetime

The money can be spent on temporary housing, food, blankets and clothing, as well as services such as psychological counseling, medical care and education. National governments can demand back money that has been spent since the beginning of the war.

There is also a €10 billion pandemic recovery fund known as REACT-EU. Member states have already been paid €3.5 billion, with the largest share being those hosting the most refugees.

Naomi Lloyd of Real Economy’ asked Joost Korte’ye, the European Commission's Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Participation, why funding is money reallocated from other budgets rather than fresh EU money to help deal with this crisis.

Korte, “2021The 7-year budget that started in ’ was made for peace, ” said. While “Biz was negotiating this budget, no one predicted a war in Avrupa’. I think it's fair to say that the budget we have right now is not really in line with the situation we find ourselves in. - ”

Underlining how quickly they released the money, the Director-General said: “European CommissionWhat ’ does is to use all the flexibility in the budget, all the margins. The European Union, where ’ has much more funding, is what we call harmonization funds.

"We strongly encouraged and encouraged member states to use the money that is still there, and we made it very easy to spend that money," “ concluded.

Korte explained why there is still unallocated money in the budget.

“In fact, it is possible for Member States to spend money within the scope of 2014-2020 programs until the end of 2023. So seven years is actually almost ten years. That's why there's still money out there in 2022’ as we speak today.”

He explained how governments, NGOs, ’s and charities can access the money.

“We pay to the bank account of the member state, and from now on it is up to the member state to make sure that the beneficiary receives the money that is actually due. And we're checking it out. In addition, Member States need to state very clearly who is responsible, where they should go and what the refund formalities are.”

The Great Difficulty

RomaniaUkrainian flags are seen everywhere on the streets of Bucharest as a sign of support and solidarity. Since the beginning of the Russian occupation, about 900,000 Ukrainians have entered Romania, and about ’ of children.

BucharestThe main railway station in ’ has been transformed into a center for refugees. Managing this influx is a major challenge for the country.

Ukrainian families are waiting in a specially prepared waiting room for the bus that will take them to the next stop, Germany’. The transport is organised by the Romanian charity ‘For Good’.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Alina and about twenty volunteers have been helping Ukrainian refugees.

Alina Dăscălescu, who is also the president of the association, said that they provide food, clothes, shoes and goods to young babies, always in search of financial support.

“Currently RomaniaWe plan to apply for special funds from ’, but in the near future we are looking for some funds from Europe’.”

Unprecedented crisis

Save the Children Romania helped build this facility. His coordinator, Leonardo Andreescu, says he has never faced such a major crisis before.

I don't think the Romanian authorities and the Romanian community as a whole will be able to deal with this situation for a long time unless we get some support from abroad.“

At the station, humanitarian organizations are working with local authorities to help and guide incoming refugees.

Maryna left Odessa ’ with her two children and three other family members, but said their journey had become too dangerous.

“ I was so afraid for my children, for my mother, for my sister, for all my relatives. Volunteers told us that there was a room here where we could eat, where our children could play. Children love this room, they play ball with volunteers, there are psychologists. They didn't want to leave, so we waited until the kids got a little emotionally better, ” says.

Vital help for children

Support from NGO ’s and government agencies is vital in helping child refugees. RomaniaAbout 80,000 people remain, including about 36,000 ’i children, out of the total number of Ukrainian refugees entering ’.

Anastasiia Konovalova, also a Ukrainian refugee, at an elementary school in Bucharest’, Romania's Ministry of Education, set up eight classes thanks to classes provided by ’.

“We currently have 264 children and close to 900’ on the waiting list. All these children came here because they needed education and they want to study Ukrainian. We're opening a new school next week and all the teachers here have been volunteering for two months, raising money for salaries through Go Fund Me, says ” proudly.

Alena Palesika arrived with her sons two months ago. The youngest comes here to school, study and at the same time play with other children.

“We are very pleased with our teachers and the team in general and we help them as much as we can. Romania, who helped us in these difficult times’ya, we are very grateful to this country and to all these people.”

Alena dreams of returning home, like Anastasiia, who organizes the reconstruction of her schools in Ukraine’.

‘Educated RomaniaHow does ’ help Ukrainian refugee children?

The Romanian government estimates that it has spent around 72 million euros in emergency aid since the start of the war, and that the end of the conflict is not on the horizon. Frontline countries like this think public finances are strained, but AB’ has some help.

The Romanian government has adapted the legislation early so that all Ukrainian refugee children can have exactly the same rights as Romanian children.

Romanian Education Minister Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu explained how the country's education reform project, known as ‘Educated Romania’, was used to help Ukrainian children continue their education.

“RomaniaAt ’ we have a unique opportunity: The President-initiated “Educated Romania” project aims for a radical reform of the education system. We have a budget of €3.6 billion for education reform. The existence of this project means that we are able to offer better and more effective integration and support to Ukrainian children. EU funds available to us, including those outside of EU Commission collaborations and the recovery and resilience plan, are also sources of funding.”

Across Romania, there are professional teams ready to help integrate refugee children, he said.

At the “ provincial level, RomaniaWe have a working group of school inspectors, teachers and, most importantly, counselors in ’, because psychological counseling for these children is important.”

The biggest challenge in the current situation, especially for minors from conflict zones, is the lack of Romanian language skills, he says.

The only obstacle to overcome is the language barrier, so Romanian authorities are focusing their efforts on providing Romanian language lessons.“

Do we need a digital euro?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

Are Europeans ready to launch a new initiative? The digital versionThe euro? - Mm-hmm. After coins and banknotes, now the European Commission to offerthe The Digital EuroA virtual version of the currency issued by the European Central Bank, which can be used for free alongside cash in the eurozone.

Why do we need a digital euro?

How European citizens can benefit from digital currency and what approach should be followed to develop it? Commissioner in charge of Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Association, Mairead McGuinness, explained the challenges of creating this new currency and why we need a currency. The Digital Euro:

“, this is a very new concept. People are curious. So this is the euro, cash. And you know, you see, you understand, but maybe I won't have any cash in my pocket. So I want an alternative, the option to have a digital version of cash. People don't use cash as much as they used to, and COVID-19 has really accelerated this trend. So it's really about the election. Am I going to use this money that I don't have in my wallet today, but is it normal? Or will I use the digital version of cash?”

Overview of the digital euro

The digital euro will be the digital version of euro banknotes and coins. It will have exactly the same value and can be used in exactly the same ways: Even beyond – national borders to buy ice cream or clothes or send money to a birthday party.

For example, you can use the QR code to pay from a secure app on your phone, or even pay when you don't have an internet connection.

Once fully implemented, sellers will need to accept the digital euro in the same way they accept cash today.

The digital euro differs from cryptocurrencies in that it is supported by the European Central Bank and thus guaranteed stability.

In a digitalized world, the digital euro aims to enable everyone to make secure payments anywhere in the eurozone.

When asked what advantages the digital euro would bring to EU citizens, the EU Commissioner replied:

“When we're trying to get our heads around the digital euro, so it's a wallet, and I actually have euro cash in this wallet. But I don't want to break 50 euros because I think I have it for something else. So I can decide to use the digital wallet to pay the euro for these drinks. So people are paying today in cash, but they're using more and more cards or phones. And we want to have the option of cash equivalent in digital format. And now it is. We proposed legislation, but it's just the beginning of a process, ” said.

The difference from cashless, contactless payment is: “Different because it's central bank money, other payments are private money. You know what it's worth. That's why we want to bring that same feeling into the digital age, because we're increasingly using digital payments.”

Will the cash go?

Central banks worry that digitizing payments could eliminate the anchor that cash brings to their financial systems. The digital equivalent of cash will help support the sovereignty and stability of this system. Euronews spoke with economist Maria Demertzis, a senior expert at the European think tank Bruegel’, at the National Bank of Belgium museum.

Demertzis, “Interesting how cash has evolved” said. After the “ Pandemic, we thought that most of the payments were made digitally. But in fact, if you look at the figures, these are the ECB figures, 2022, of the value of all transactions in the ’de euro area. ’si was made in cash. ’si isn't exactly half, but it's very, very close to half. In fact, I think the direction of travel is to reduce cash to more digital payments, but I don't think it will completely disappear.”

How to design a digital euro?

Maria Demertzis said: “When it comes to our daily payments, which won't be much different, it will probably be an app. It will likely be mediated by financial intermediaries, such as banks, and paid in stores, just as we pay digitally through other methods. And at least initially, given that ECB’ will only start with small amounts, we won't have more than €3000 or €4000’ in the bank, in fact, it won't make a lot of difference for the consumer.

“If you want the digital euro to emulate cash as much as possible, you should make an effort to make it as anonymous as possible. And here the ECB tells us that there will be anonymity at small payment levels. But once you start paying larger amounts of money, it will no longer be anonymous.

The European Central Bank conducted a study. Participation of the peoplein the digital euro. Confidentiality among the concerns arising from this () While taking place, it is necessary to ensure that the security (), availability across the Eurozone (), the absence of additional fees (%9) and offline availability (%8) was followed.

Data protection associations are also raising concerns about privacy, anonymity and payment tracking.

Commissioner Mairead McGuinness is right to ask who monitors spending when using the digital euro, but said: “ECB isn't interested in how you spend your money, but it wants to give you the option of having a digital version of cash. So you can actually use digital euro payment offline. If you use your digital wallet offline, this is a special process. Of course, if you are making an e-commerce transaction, your bank will know that you are using your digital euro to do so. But I want us to do this: Thanks to these conversations, if people are worried, we can answer these questions and put them at ease.”

Opportunity for the economy

Despite privacy concerns, the digital euro represents a commercial opportunity, especially for FinTech companies, Jan Boehm’in explains: “Fintech’s are young companies, technology companies that provide financial services. We are very innovative. We are technology-driven and offer our customers solutions, such as this payment solution that you use when you pay for your coffee.

Future users can benefit from these innovative services, especially private individuals and companies in the Eurozone.

Boehm, “Today, the European payment environment is actually very fragmented. So we have a lot of US companies that provide card payment plans, and people use Paypal’ for peer-to-peer payments, for example. We don't have much of a European system. Fintech’'s role is clearly to innovate but also to provide cuts for better products for customers and greater transparency that will result in lower fees, ” said.

Around 120 central banks around the world are currently working on digital versions of national currencies. The European Commission's proposal for a digital euro, outlined by ’ on 28 June, aims to create a legal framework for this; It's a joint proposal to protect cash.

When is the digital euro coming?

The Commissioner explained the next steps as follows: “Eh, it won't be my decision. The legislation is to implement democracy around the digital euro if you wish, and this process depends on the European Parliament and the Council. In other words, the ECB will decide whether and when the digital euro will be launched, and there is no date for that.”

Special thanks to ‘PIM Coffee on the Go’ and ‘Brasserie Byblos 1898’e for filming this episode.

Prioritizing people: How can Europe grow its social economy?

20/04/2026 by the Logistics TransportIn the the General Assembly

When we talk about economics, we often talk about growth, profit, managers and shareholders.

In this last part of ’, we go to Gothenburg’, the second largest city in ’, Sweden, to learn more about another type of economy that keeps people at the forefront: The social economy.

Matilda Holgersson is a 31-year-old Swede with a deep love for music, art and cats. A few years ago, health problems kept him out of the job market for five years.

Real Economy reporter Bryan Carter’a “2017I was studying at university in ’, but I experienced burnout and was diagnosed with burnout syndrome and depression. It happened so fast and I got so sick, ” said.

“ I don't remember much about the first six months because I was in a very bad situation and I had serious anxiety. I was taken to a lot of hospitals and received very severe treatments.”

Matilda gradually managed to feel better and return to her social life. Part of the recovery process stems from the work he has done over the past six months at Ängås Gård’da, a food production and event cooperative that offers people facing Matilda’ya and similar challenges the opportunity to recover.

“The positive aspect of working in a cooperative is that you help each other and understand each other's needs very well, ” said.

“It was considered a little strange to have a bad day in the places where I worked before. You're not supposed to show how you feel. But you are allowed to be as you are here. Work as hard as you can. - ”

Matilda’'s workplace is part of a sales organization called Social Commerce. The company, led by CEO ’ Mari Odenbjörk, aims to overcome some of the stigma associated with cooperatives and social enterprises at ’te, Sweden, to establish business ties with more traditional types of companies.

Mari, “Sweden's ’te cooperatives are still a little unwelcome. It's not really legal, ” explained. “I work with people who want to help people, who really want to make a difference.”

Rethinking healthy work

Kajskjul46, a social enterprise in the port of Gothenburg, provides services such as furniture repair and textile printing to individuals and industries. It also serves as a work-rehabilitation cooperative.

Hanna-Sara Kristensson, manager of Kajskjul46’, “, SwedenWe have a really big problem with people with stress-related diseases in ’. We need another perspective on what healthy work is, ” said.

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All profits earned here are reinvested directly into the company, which can sometimes make it difficult to access financial support.

Maria, we can't go to “Banks and ask for loans or anything like that. So we have many different projects, EU funding and different funds that we can apply for in ’, Sweden. But I think the banks still think we're a little suspicious. They don't really understand us when the main goal isn't profit, ” added.

‘-enabling policies to help social enterprises thrive’

There are significant differences between EU countries when it comes to the social economy. Sweden’te the country's paid workforce %It represents 4.2’sini. This ratio is %6.3 below the EU average and %With a 9.9, Luxembourg is also below ’.

Italian social economics expert Giulia Galera, “What we see is that public policies do not fully recognize the social responsibility that social initiatives assume. Financial frameworks are quite lacking, ” explains.

“Public policies are absolutely crucial to creating a facilitating ecosystem, environment where social initiatives can emerge, thrive and scale, ” said.

Social economic organizations recognize that one of the most important problems they face is access to finance. But Giulia Galera says investment isn't the only way to help these businesses reach their full potential.

“I think that a lot of emphasis is placed on financing as a solution in the development of social initiatives, whereas I believe that facilitating policies are more important in creating conditions for the establishment of social initiatives.”

What is the EU doing to improve ’'s social economy?

The EU Action Plan on the social economy, “, was adopted in December 2021” with the aim of mobilizing the full potential of the social economy.

Giulia, Real Economy’ye “AB Action Plan is taking a very important step forward ” said. “First of all, because it accepts the social economy as a certain dynamic. It also clarifies the differences between social economic units and mainstream businesses. He later acknowledges that the social economy is active not only in niche sectors such as the welfare sector, but in all industrial ecosystems.”

However, the Action Plan is not binding on Member States. Success will therefore largely depend on the willingness of EU countries to implement social economy initiatives that will enable people like Matilda to imagine a brighter future.

Matilda concluded her words as follows: “I think I can work full-time in the future. I'm also planning to go back to college, and I want to work with children in the long run. And I can see that happening. So it's good to have that hope for the future and know that I'm going to succeed, ”, Matilda concluded.