Information and secretariat: Brussels, CECOP aisbl, Rue Guillaume Tell 59b, BE  1060BRUSSELS, Tel. (32/2) 543 1037, , www.Krakow2004.coop.  Krakow, Zwianzek Lustracyiny Spoldzielni Pracy, Ul. malborska 65, PL  30-646 KRAKOW, Tel./fax: (48/12) 265 73 90, .

The social economy, in all its diversity, unites the economic, civil and participative aspects of society. However, its importance, role and values are still ignored in many new Member States.

This plural economy made up of co-operatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations constitutes more than 10% of the whole European Union economy. Such enterprises, known as “enterprises of social economy”, contribute largely to the internal market, local and regional development and social cohesion. This has often been underlined by the various European Institutions. During the first European social economy conference in Central and Eastern Europe, “Praha Social Economy 2002”, we could observe that the enlargement of the EU meant both opportunities and new challenges for social economy event, we stressed the importance for the social economy enterprises and organizations in the Central and Eastern Europe countries to be integrated in the European Union.

The objectives of the European conference “Krakow Social Economy 2004” fits logically in a process of continuity of the actions and strategies decided in Prague in 2002. The conference will give visibility to the various forms of social economy in Europe and strengthen co-operation between the social economy of Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe by debating topics such as: an appropriate legal framework; the creation of a social development fund; the access of the social economy in the East to the EU structural funds; sustainable local development; co-operative banks and rural development; co-operative entrepreneurs; etc. Last but not least, it will have to lead to a process of recognition of the social economy by the new Member States as interlocutors and fundamental partners for social and civil dialogue.

“Krakow Social Economy 2004” – organized under the patronage of the Polish Government, the European Commission and other national Governments – will bring together more than a thousand participants of the enlarged Europe and the new candidate countries: citizens, the social partners, representatives of social economy organizations, managers of social economy enterprises, journalists, officials of the European Community institutions, national Ministers in charge of the social economy , delegations of national ministers of labor and social affairs, etc.