The associative and sports world is following with great interest the legislative process of the Hamon law on the social and solidarity economy, which could play an essential role in their lives and functioning.
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the supervising minister, recently highlighted in an address to the National Assembly the importance of the associative world. For, as the minister observed, “although not all associations claim to be part of the social and solidarity economy, 80% of jobs in the social and solidarity economy depend on associations.”
The ongoing debates have allowed for the discussion of “essential subjects” such as the legal definition of public subsidies, volunteering, and the recognition and appreciation of volunteer work at a time when “the State has renewed its trust agreement with the associative sector” and the Prime Minister has decided to make 2014 the Year of Commitment.
In continuing legislative work, the minister has set forth the government’s goal to “open new projects” and particularly emphasized a “simplification shock” in favor of associations, parallel to that initiated for businesses to:
• reduce the administrative and bureaucratic constraints currently weighing on associations;
• enable association leaders to fully concentrate on what constitutes the core of their mission and commitment.
The minister specified that it is necessary to “work on all simplification levers at each stage of an association’s life: from its creation to its possible dissolution, including applications for accreditation, recognition procedures for public utility, or obtaining funding.”
Since, at least apparently, everyone agrees, the associative and sports world is awaiting the results.
