Founded in 1996 to foster collaboration between regional and local authorities and social and solidarity economy organisations, REVES has become one of Europe’s leading platforms for dialogue on territorial development models based on participation, social cohesion, and cooperation between public institutions and civil society. For three decades, the network has brought together cities, regions, social economy organisations, and civil society actors committed to building more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable communities.
From 27 to 29 May 2026, the city of Östersund, Sweden, hosted REVES Days 2026, the annual gathering of REVES – the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy, organised in collaboration with the Region Jämtland Härjedalen and marking the network’s 30th anniversary.
The 2026 edition reaffirmed the central importance of a theme that ran throughout the programme: the value of partnerships, both within territories and across different territories, as a key lever for addressing the major economic, social, and democratic challenges facing Europe today. In a context marked by growing inequalities, economic and environmental transitions, and geopolitical tensions, the ability to build stable alliances among institutions, organisations, and citizens was identified as an essential condition for generating sustainable development and strengthening trust within communities.
Particular attention was devoted to discussions on the future of European policies and the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union. Several speakers highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong role for regions and local authorities in shaping and implementing European policies and investments, stressing that this is not only a matter of governance, but also of policy effectiveness, democratic quality, and citizens’ trust in institutions.
Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, Head of the Inclusive and Social Entrepreneurship Unit within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, outlined the prospects for the social economy within European strategies, referring to the path initiated with the Social Economy Action Plan in 2021. She also highlighted the growing attention of European institutions towards the territorial ecosystems where the social economy develops and generates impact, recognising territories as privileged spaces for fostering social innovation, inclusion, and sustainable development.
Sarah de Heusch, Director of Social Economy Europe, reiterated that it is above all at the local level that the social economy demonstrates its transformative potential. Local communities, public administrations, and social economy organisations were identified as the everyday drivers of a more cohesive and inclusive society capable of taking a long-term perspective. Against this backdrop, concerns remain regarding the future EU budget, where support mechanisms and long-term perspectives for the social economy are not yet sufficiently clear or structured.
Turin played a leading role in the session dedicated to the challenges of developing the social economy in metropolitan areas, bringing together experiences from Turin, Hamburg, and Östersund.
During the discussion, Sonia Cambursano, Deputy Councillor of the Metropolitan City of Turin, presented the process that led to the development of the Torino 2030 Metropolitan Social Economy Plan.
Raffaella Scalisi, Strategic Advisor at Torino Social Impact, explored the role of territorial partnerships as strategic infrastructure for ensuring the long-term effectiveness of social economy policies. Her contribution focused on the conditions required to build broad and diverse partnerships, as well as on the factors that enable them to remain active over time. The discussion highlighted how the ability to generate value for all stakeholders involved is essential to ensuring the resilience and effectiveness of territorial development strategies.
Finally, Giovanni Ferrero, representing the City of Turin, addressed the role of the social economy in shaping a vision for urban areas, with particular attention to peripheral and peri-urban neighbourhoods. His contribution focused on the challenges of involving social economy actors in territorial planning processes and on the need to recognise their contribution to development strategies capable of combining urban regeneration, social inclusion, and community participation.
During REVES Days, the network’s General Assembly also took place. Torino Social Impact, an active member of REVES for several years, participated in the proceedings that led to the approval of the Metropolitan City of Turin as a new member of the network, further strengthening the Turin area’s connection with one of Europe’s leading networks dedicated to collaboration between public institutions and the social economy.
Thirty years after its foundation, REVES continues to serve as a key reference point for European territories that regard partnerships, participation, and the social economy as essential tools for building more resilient, inclusive, and democratic communities.
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