Retrospective

1999: CREATION OF A "SOLIDARITY ECONOMY UNIT" WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

2009: CREATION OF THE FIRST MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT DEDICATED TO THE SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

In his statement on the 2009 governmental programme, former Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker stated that:

We are giving a new significance to what is known as the solidarity economy. By assigning it to a minister, the Minister of Economy, we are giving it a recognition in Luxembourg that it receives in few countries on earth. By appointing a Minister responsible for the solidarity economy, we are showing that we consider this area of policy to be an essential mission of government.

Topics related to social innovation, social enterprises and the solidarity economy were thus included in the government's strategy during the 2009-2014 legislative term.

2011: PLES – NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

On 24 November 2010, the Department of Solidarity Economy of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade organized the conference “Towards new perspectives for the solidarity economy in Luxembourg”.

One year later, on 24 November 2011, the national action plan for the solidarity economy was presented, targeting three key objectives for the promotion and the development of the solidarity economy in Luxembourg:

1. a better understanding of its characteristics;
2. a better economic solidity;
3. a better integration in the national economy.

2012: LAUNCH OF THE 1,2,3 GO SOCIAL PROGRAMME

Free and personalised support to entrepreneurs with a societal impact for drawing up their business plan

The programme is run one to two times per year, and includes workshops, individual support, networking and coaching by experts.

In 2017, the programme was renamed IMPULS and in 2020 the content was revisited. As of today, IMPULS includes workshops to help its participants apply for the “Societal Impact Company” (SIS) accreditation. Laureates also gain access to a mentor who accompanies them during the launch phase of their business activity.

2013: FROM THE "SOLIDARITY ECONOMY" TO THE "SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY"

In its coalition programme of 2013, the Government mentioned the social and solidarity economy for the first time and took the step towards the social and solidarity economy as we know it today. The ministerial department was transferred from the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Economy, which has been responsible ever since.

At the time, the announcement was made: “[…] the Government will introduce a bill that will establish the legal basis for the creation of societal impact companies”. This bill would be finalised three years later.

2015: PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU AND THE LUXEMBOURG DECLARATION

In the context of the conference "Boosting Social Enterprises in Europe", the former Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Economy, Nicolas Schmit, adopted for Luxembourg, together with France, Italy, Spain, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia the "Luxembourg Declaration for the Social Solidarity Economy" in Europe.

Conclusions on the promotion of the social economy as a key driver for economic and social development in Europe were adopted on 7 December 2015.

It was "a political message to the Member States, and also a clear invitation to the European Commission to be more concrete and active in the promotion and development of the social economy".

2016: THE SIS LAW AND THE CREATION OF AN INCUBATOR FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

On 23 November 2016, the Parliament adopted the bill that established the societal impact companies (SIS). The law introducing societal impact companies provides official recognition of the social and solidarity economy in Luxembourg and a legal framework dedicated to its activities.

Following the entry into force of the law and through a tailor-made programme, a first incubation programme called 6zero1 was set up to support social entrepreneurs throughout the process of creating and launching their social or societal activity.

2018: LAUNCH OF THE HOUSE OF SOCIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIAL INNOVATION (MESIS)

In October 2018, MESIS opened its doors in Luxembourg-City. It was born from the desire to position the social and solidarity economy in the broader context of economic development and diversification.

Luxembourg has created this specific space to provide a platform for information, meetings, exchanges and co-creation for all those interested in the social and solidarity economy, social innovation and, more generally, in social entrepreneurship.

The MESIS also offers workspaces and meeting rooms to social start-ups.

2020: ESTABLISHMENT OF A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy completely overhauled the service offer at MESIS in order to provide fully individualised and flexible support according to the individual needs of project leaders.

2021: NATIONAL REFORM PLAN

The National Reform Plan 2021 aims to make the social and solidarity economy a key player in a fair and responsible recovery.