ERU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 228: Invitation til at tale ved det internationale ’Social Enterprise Summit’ den 28/3-22 i parlamentet i Litauen

Erhvervsudvalget 2021-22
ERU Alm.del Bilag 228
Offentligt

Draft of 10 March 2022

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SUMMIT

Developing social business: towards a sustainable and inclusive economy

28 March 2022

The social economy sector plays an important role both in the overall economic growth of the country

and in addressing the societal challenges. Organisations in this sector have demonstrated a

remarkable ability to contribute to the strengthening and building of resilient communities and to

manage major transitions as well as

‘[…]

outperformed other industry sectors and generated up to

12% of jobs while also advancing key societal issues. The collective scale and impact of these purpose-

driven enterprises is vast, with 2.8 million social enterprises in Europe alone

[…]’.

(Unlocking Social

Entrepreneurship for the Recovery | World Economic Forum, Davos 2021).

At the end of 2021, the European Commission set out a Social Economy Action Plan, which will be

launched this year. The plan aims to improve social investment and entrepreneurship, support social

economy organisations to start up and scale up their activities, increase their social impact, innovate

and create jobs. It will also draw on the unique characteristics of social economy organisations in order

to ensure that the green and digital transitions leave no one behind and that our communities

strengthen their economic and social resilience.

Social economy organisations play an important role in job creation, inclusion, sustainable growth, and

integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market. They ensure industrial development and

empowerment, as well as reskilling and upskilling. Social economy organisations operate in a wide

range of economic sectors and ecosystems, including social and public services, health, social housing

or affordable energy for the most vulnerable, thus helping mitigate the effects of the economic crisis

and increase resilience.

This year, the

Social Enterprise Summit

invites leaders of the social business ecosystem to dialogue

with policy makers on the development prospects of this sector and its importance for the Lithuanian

economy and for addressing societal challenges. Guests from foreign countries will also speak at the

event to review good practices. The event will feature foreign keynote speakers who will provide an

overview of best practices.

The event is co-organised by the Lithuanian Social Business Association in cooperation with the

European Commission Representation in Lithuania,

‘Enterprise

Lithuania’, the Office of the Nordic

Council of Ministers in Lithuania, and Office of the Embassy of Canada and NGOs which include

‘Avilys’,

‘Gerinorai.lt’, and ‘Katalista

Ventures’.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

Venue: Constitution Hall, Building 1, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

(Hybrid event)

10.00–10.30

OPENING SESSION

Welcome address

H.E. Ms Viktorija

ČMILYTĖ-NIELSEN,

Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic

of Lithuania

(virtual address)

Aušrinė ARMONAITĖ, Minister of the Economy and Innovation,

Lithuania

Opening speeches

ERU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 228: Invitation til at tale ved det internationale ’Social Enterprise Summit’ den 28/3-22 i parlamentet i Litauen

Kazys STARKEVIČIUS, Chair of the

Committee on Economics, Seimas of

the Republic of Lithuania

Monika OŠMIANSKIENĖ, Member,

Committee on European Affairs,

Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

Ms Viktorija

BRA�½IŪNAITĖ,

Director of the Lithuanian Social Business

Association

10.30–11.00

Keynote speech

Ms Ruth PASERMAN, Director DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

at European Commission will deliver a speech on the Social Economy

Action Plan

SESSION I: CREATING THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR THE SOCIAL

ECONOMY TO THRIVE

Policy and legal frameworks are key in creating the right environment for

the social economy to thrive. This includes taxation, public procurement

and State aid frameworks that have to be adapted to the needs of the

social economy. The session will feature members of the Committee on

Economics of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and other members

of the Seimas as well as their counterparts from the European Union and

other parliaments, who will speak on these matters and share best

practices.

Speakers:

•

Mr Kazys STARKEVIČIUS, Chair of the Committee on Economics,

Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

•

Mr Laima MOGENIENĖ,

Member of the Committee on Economics,

Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

•

Mr Joël LIGHTBOUND, Chair, Standing Committee on Industry and

Technology, House of Commons, Canada,

tbc

SESSION II: OPENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL ECONOMY

ORGANISATIONS TO START UP AND SCALE UP

Social economy entities should benefit from business development support

to start up and develop, as well as to reskill and upskill their workers. For

2021–2027, the Commission is aiming to increase its support beyond the

estimated €2.5 billion allocated to

the social economy previously (2014–

2020). During Session II, representatives from the Lithuanian Ministry of

the Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour,

and counterparts from the European Union and other countries will discuss

best ways to create more opportunities for social businesses to start up and

scale up, as well as to foster entrepreneurial competences.

Speakers:

•

Ieva VALEŠKAITĖ, Vice-Minister

of the Economy and

Innovation, Lithuania

•

Mr Vytautas

ŠILINSKAS,

Vice-Minister of Social Protection and

Labour, Lithuania

•

Mr Egidijus GIEDRAITIS, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Lithuania

Break

SESSION III: ENHANCING RECOGNITION OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMY AND

ITS POTENTIAL

The Social Economy Action Plan aims to make the social economy more

visible and improve the recognition of its work and potential. The

11.00–12.00

12.00–13.00

13.00–14.00

14.00–15.00

ERU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 228: Invitation til at tale ved det internationale ’Social Enterprise Summit’ den 28/3-22 i parlamentet i Litauen

Commission together with the EU Member States will carry out

communication activities emphasising the role and specificities of the

social economy and demonstrating best practices in social

entrepreneurship. During Session III, representatives from Lithuanian and

foreign social enterprises will share their best practices and impact stories

•

Mr Imad ELABDALA, Founder & CEO at Kidnovation

Mr Eimantas BEKĖ�½A, CEO & Co-founder at Memby/ Digiklasė

(EdTech Startup)

Ms Viviana RIZZUTO, Founder & President of Identità &

Bellezza, President of the Steering Committee Community

Foundation of Agrigento and Trapani

15.00–16.30

Moderator: Ms Jurgita RIBINSKAITE-GLATZER, CEO at Gerinorai.lt

Discussion: leaders of parliament, governments, social enterprises,

business, academia and media will discuss the prospects of the

development of the social business sector and its importance for

Lithuania’s economy and for addressing societal challenges. Participants

will share their ideas on vision and concrete steps to strengthen a

sustainable and inclusive social business sector.

Panellists:

•

Ms Monika OŠMIANSKIENĖ, Member, Committee on European

Affairs, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

•

Mr Lukas SAVICKAS, Member of the Committee on Economics,

Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

•

Ieva VALEŠKAITĖ, Vice-Minister

of the Economy and

Innovation, Lithuania

•

Ms Sofia BREITHOLTZ, CEO at Reach for Change

•

Ms Viktorija NAUSĖDĖ, Founder and CEO at TexTale, Board

Member of the Lithuanian Social Business Association

•

Víctor MESEGUER, Director of Social Economy Europe

•

Ms Greta MONSTAVICE, Katalista Ventures CEO & Co-Founder

Moderator: Mr Ugnius SAVICKAS, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

expert

SUMMARY AND CLOSING SESSION

16.30–17.00