The network of cities and regions for the social economy, REVES Network, celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Swedish city of Östersund, in collaboration with the Jämtland Härjedalen region, which also hosted the REVES Days 2026. The events took place from 27 to 29 May and brought together local and regional governments, social economy actors, civil society, and academia from Sweden and other EU Member States, as well as representatives from international and EU institutions or advisory bodies such as the OECD, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
The REVES Days 2026 were held under the slogan “Social Economy – an indispensable partner for strategic public policies fostering resilience across Europe.” The various presentations highlighted the need for appropriate policy frameworks at local, national, and European levels to preserve and further develop the potential of social economy initiatives, to transform community initiatives serving the general interest into public policies, and to strengthen collaborative territorial systems.
Regarding widely shared concerns about the future EU Multiannual Financial Framework and the need to preserve its potential to respond to the needs of local communities, speakers such as Brigitte Fellahi (European Commission), MEP Maravillas Abadia, and Sarah de Heusch (Social Economy Europe) urged participants to mobilize national governments and make their voices heard in negotiations on national and regional partnership plans.
Yonnec Polet (Committee of the Regions) and Giuseppe Guerini (EESC and Cooperatives Europe) stressed the urgent need to “place society between the economy and politics,” to create spaces and channels for citizens to actively participate in policymaking and thereby revive democracy.
Jonas Andersson, Chair of the Regional Development Council of Region Jämtland Härjedalen, stated in his closing remarks on 28 May that the development of the social economy and the future of the European project are closely interconnected, adding that “the Social Economy is alive,” and that “we are able to collectively decide how we live.”
REVES Days 2026
The REVES Days 2026 constituted a European meeting dedicated to analyzing the role of the social economy as a strategic partner of public administrations in strengthening territorial resilience and addressing Europe’s main social, economic, and demographic challenges.
The event included study visits on innovative initiatives related to social inclusion, sustainability, early childhood education, care, well-being, culture, and tourism. During the sessions, participants reflected on the evolution of the social economy in European public policies from the 1990s to the present, highlighting progress achieved through cooperation between public authorities and social organizations. Innovative initiatives were also presented through participatory formats that foster the exchange of experiences.
Various European projects related to social innovation and territorial development were also showcased. Finally, on 29 May, the REVES General Assembly was held, dedicated to defining the network’s future priorities and lines of action.
