Programme 01 · Monitor · What's happening
Following the field as it moves
News from the Observatory, the policy frameworks that shape social enterprises in Europe and South-East Europe, and initiatives from the region worth knowing.
News
From the Observatory
The three most recent posts. The full archive goes back to 2018.
Organisation
A new website for the Observatory
seobservatory.org has been rebuilt as a static site, with the archive, documents and programmes in one place and no cookies or tracking.
ReadEvents
SECon returns in September 2027
The Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference, SECon 2027, organised by SENIC and the DIESIS Network, will take place in September 2027.
ReadResearch
SEI 2026: the provisional edition of the Social Entrepreneurship Index is out
The Social Entrepreneurship Index 2026 scores 45 countries on 40 indicators, with a time series from 2015 to 2024 and an open dataset.
ReadFurther reading
- What are social enterprises?British CouncilA plain introduction and an overview of the British Council’s social enterprise programme.
- The State of Social Enterprise in TurkeyBritish Council Turkey · 2019Size, scale and prospects of the Turkish social enterprise sector.
- Knowledge hub on social investmentGood Finance (UK)Guides to what social investment is, the types on offer and how to prepare for it.
Policies
The rules that shape social enterprises
The main European and international frameworks in force today, and the laws and strategies of the region. Policy makers who want to discuss evidence for a new measure can get in touch.
European Union
- Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economyEuropean Commission · COM(2021) 778 · 2021The EU’s policy framework for the social economy and the starting point for the measures listed below.
- Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditionsCouncil of the EU · adopted 27 November 2023Guidance to member states on the policies and legal frameworks that support the social economy.
- Council Recommendation: background, topics and next stepsEU Social Economy Gateway
- Social Economy Action Plan: progress trackerEU Social Economy GatewayWhere each action of the plan stands.
- Social economy strategiesEU Social Economy Gateway
- Socially responsible public procurementEU Social Economy Gateway
- EU funding programmes for the social economyEU Social Economy Gateway
- In my country: national social economy pagesEU Social Economy Gateway
- Social economy data and statisticsEU Social Economy Gateway
International
- Promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development (A/RES/77/281)UN General Assembly · 2023
- OECD Global Action: Promoting Social & Solidarity Economy EcosystemsOECD
- Social economy and social innovationOECDThe OECD’s current publications, country reviews and policy guidance in one place.
- Policy brief on entrepreneurship among people with disabilitiesOECD
South-East Europe
Laws and strategies change; check the official gazette of each country for the version in force.
- Zakon o socijalnom preduzetništvu (Law on Social Entrepreneurship)Serbia · 2022 · SR (Business Registers Agency)
- The Law on Social Entrepreneurship — English translationSerbia · DIESIS Network · EN
- Социјални претпријатија и социјално претприемништво – компаративен прегледNorth Macedonia · Parliamentary Institute · 2024 · MKA comparative review of how social enterprises are regulated.
- Strategija razvoja društvenog poduzetništva u RH 2015–2020Croatia · 2015 · HRIts period has ended; kept for reference.
- Social economy and social entrepreneurship (Social Europe guide)Euricse (PDF) · ENAn introductory guide to the concepts.
Incubator
Initiatives across the region
Social enterprises and support organisations from South-East Europe, first collected in 2019–2020 and checked again in November 2026. Know one we should add? Write to info@seobservatory.org.
North Macedonia
- Social Enterprises Network MkA platform for cooperation between social enterprises, promotion of the sector and multi-sector partnerships.
- TreebanksA tree is planted for every booking made through its travel partners, at no cost to the traveller.
- ZhabecAn educational centre teaching children about ecology and environmental protection; part of its profit funds activities for vulnerable children.
- KopcheRed CrossSecond-hand clothing, donated and redistributed, with support for the most vulnerable.
- Therapeutic community “Pokrov”The first long-term rehabilitation programme for addiction in the country, opened in 2009.
- Face to Face (Лице в лице)Association PublicA street magazine since 2012; selling it helps vendors from vulnerable groups reintegrate and prepare for the open labour market.
- Nega PlusHERAHome care for elderly people, employing Roma women.
- Mama OrganaTurns food waste into organic fertiliser and soil substrates and employs socially excluded single parents.
- HOPS – Healthy Options Project SkopjeWorks to improve the status of people who use drugs, sex workers and other marginalised groups.
Albania
- GjejZaAn app against gender-based violence offering legal, psychological and medical consultation; Technovation Challenge winner, 2019.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- CDP GlobusThe first centre for the development of social entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Coalition “Udruženi možemo više”An advocacy coalition of civil society organisations and social enterprises, coordinated by CDP Globus.
- Centre for Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD)Strengthens civil society organisations, their networks and their cooperation with government and business.
Bulgaria
- Samaritans AssociationStara ZagoraSocial and educational services for disadvantaged children, young people and families since 1998.
- NadEzhko bakeriesBread Houses NetworkOrganic bakeries with a bake-house and community centre where socially excluded people and people with disabilities mix with everyone else.
- Synergia FoundationImproves the well-being of visually impaired people through social entrepreneurship.
Croatia
- Creative Development Association “Slap”OsijekAdvocates for and promotes the development of social entrepreneurship.
- AuThinkAn award-winning app, designed by four students, that helps children with autism and their parents and teachers.
Kosovo*
- Bear Sanctuary PrishtinaFOUR PAWSA sanctuary for bears once kept as pets or restaurant attractions.
- Villa KatundiGjilanAlternative tourism built on a circular economy model.
Serbia
- Social entrepreneurship in the Rasina DistrictKruševacA project creating an enabling environment for social enterprises, starting in the Rasina District.
- isoBillboardTurns layers of discarded posters into thermal insulation for homes without facades.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Other programmes