On October 1st, 2024, the Institute for Economic Democracy (IED) will host the Third Slovenian Congress of Economic Democracy at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.

The 3rd Congress of Economic Democracy will address the pressing challenges that local communities in Europe face in the context of the global economy. Specifically, this year’s discussions will focus on identifying the ways in which localities can work with European institutions to develop solutions to these challenges, focusing particularly on the role of employee ownership.

This year’s theme

Among the many changes it has brought, globalization has also led to increased uncertainty for European local communities. The mobility of international capital, foreign direct investment, private equity, and the takeover of local companies by international competitors can threaten business continuity, job stability, prospects for sustainable and sustained growth of local economies, career opportunities for a highly skilled and young workforce and the global standing of the European Union. These issues have been exacerbated by the lack of alternatives for passing companies to a new generation of local owners, which have led to an increase of trasnfers of business ownership from local community members to international power centers.

Locally-owned companies are an important pillar of sustainable local development. It is therefore of paramount importance to develop strategies which will ensure business and ownership continuity. Amongst all, employee ownership stands as a time-tested solution, which can also help:

• solve the problem of ownership succession in SMEs, which is exacerbated by Europe’s aging population;

• generate career opportunities for highly skilled and young workers;

• anchor capital ownership within local communities, ensuring that added value remains among local residents and contributing to greater regional cohesion;

• contribute to the greater competitiveness of European economy by making more innovative, competitive and resilient companies that also provide high-quality and stable jobs.

The 3rd Slovenian Congress of Economic Democracy 2024 aims to foster dialogue on the challenges local communities face and the developmental opportunities that supporting employee ownership can create. The Congress will present employee ownership as a solution to local economic development challenges and initiate discussions between local companies and representatives of local, national, and European institutions.

Admission is by invitation only.

Confirmed Speakers

• James (Jim) Bohnan, Employee Ownership Foundation 
• Tim Caulfield, European Urban Initiative
• Patrick Klein, European Commission
• Miglena Dobreva, European Investment Bank
• Tadej Beočanin, Mayor of Ajdovščina
• Marko Funkl, Mayor of Hrastnik
• Renata Kosec, Mayor of Domžale
• Matija Kovač, Mayor of the Municipality of Celje
• Primož Kokalj, Director of Etiketa, d.d.

Program

Workshop for Local Policymakers on “Tackling Challenges of Local Communities Through Employee Ownership in the EU”

This year, a Workshop for Local Policymakers on “Tackling Challenges of Local Communities Through Employee Ownership in the EU” is being organised on the fringe of the Congress with the support of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Open Society Foundation and the European Parliament. It will be a unique opportunity to learn about the role of employee ownership in building more resilient and competitive local economies and find out what support is available as part the European Urban Initiative.

Supporters