• The opinion's approach to the Social Economy (SE) in Latin America (LA) is based on two inescapable factors: firstly, the real social differences between the European Union and (EU) and LA, and secondly, the fact that LA is not an homogenous area. This analysis therefore takes full account of this diversity. It also seeks to identify common areas which make cooperation possible on an equal footing and takes account of the transformations under way in both regions.• One of the great problems hindering the development of the Latin American SSE is the difficulty of systematising information on this sector, a problem which exacerbates its social invisibility. In the absence of measurements, it is very difficult to identify its true social importance and how it differs from other kinds of enterprise in terms of the impact of its economic, social and solidarity activities. The same is urged for the sector in Europe: statistical recognition; the creation of reliable public registers; satellite accounts for each institutional sector and area of activity, all with a view to achieving greater visibility.• As in many EU countries, the priority is to resolve the SSE's lack of sufficiently consolidated, integrated and effective representation. Although a lot of progress has been made, the representative structures of the different categories of the SSE must be organised in a pyramid fashion, in a bottom-up, sectoral and territorial manner, while preventing fragmentation, competition ... [ read all ]