Who we are
RIPESS EU – Solidarity Economy Europe is a Network of networks and initiatives for the promotion of Solidarity Economy in Europe. It includes 40 sectorial, national and inter-sectorial networks in 16 countries. RIPESS brings thousands of concrete experiences that identify as solidarity economy together in Europe: self-managed productive cooperatives, solidarity markets, responsible consumption and food sovereignty, time banks, proximity services, environmental and ecological initiatives, financial alternatives (local currencies, ethical finance), structures for the promotion gender equity, innovative educational experiences, fair trade enterprises, local development associations and more.
To access RIPESS Europe webpage click here.
What we believe in
We are committed to systemic change from the current socio-economic models and shift to one of greater democracy and solidarity.
We are determined to bring together the forces of change represented by the constellation of alter-economic movements. In spite of their very active work at local or sectorial level, their energies and strengths are currently diluted as they are still scattered.
Areas of work
Federate actors and organisations in solidarity economy to proote new ways of production, consumption, finance and exchange
- Make networks, actors and solidarity economy experiences visible, both internally and externally
- Develop the scope of the network by bringing together all European regions
Develop joint advocacy to promote solidarity economy in Europe and throughout the world
- Build a shared vision and promote it to European Institutions
Encourage co-operation between members
- Share experience and good practice
- Develop and promote economic cooperation between networks and solidarity economy actors
- Build joint projects and develop collective intelligence
- Ensure convergence with social movement actors that contribute to building a democratic, equitable and environmentally just society that preserves the planet.
actively Contribute to the social movement for “another world is possible”
Some Actions
European Congresses on Social Solidarity Economy
RIPESS EU organizes every two year, the Solidarity Economy Congress with the local network members. (Barcelona 2011, Lille 2013, Berlin 2015)
UNIVERSSE 2017 – 4th European Social Solidarity Economy congress in Athens (9-11 June), brought More than 1000 people during 3 days of intense debate and experience sharing. Participants from all over Europe and beyond had the opportunity to meet and network together and make plans to collaborate on several common issues.
One of the most important results of this event has been the agreement for the creation of the Pan-Hellenic Solidarity Economy network. Another result was the self-management and independent financing of the Congress and the success of the crowdfunding campaign, which provided the possibility to fund the participation of people representing many different solidarity economy initiatives from various countries.
SSE.E IVET
The project entitled “SSE.e: affirming a new paradigm through IVET Curricula innovation”, led by ADPES (member of RedPES, Portugal) finally was funded and started in September 2016 and is expected to end in mid 2018.
The key message of the project is “Social and solidarity economy is increasingly emerging as a vibrant and promising model in Europe and in many parts of the world. Lifelong learning can be a tool for social change because it has great potential for transforming younger generations into citizens and professionals better able to cope with today’s social changes. The partners aim to collect the available information (based on a questionnaire designed by RIPESS Europe)”.
Then, experimental training modules will be tested with the young people in a system of exchanges between the partner structures and an evaluation will be conducted, the results of which will be presented during a transnational seminar.
Presentation of the project: http://www.ripess.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Flyer_SSEE_IVET.pdf
European Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy
From the outset, RIPESS Europe participated in the construction of the first European Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy (EFSSE 2016 – www.efsse.org), organized by the parlamentary group of the GUE in the European Parliament. For the first time, the SSE had the possibility to debate in the EP, an initial meeting which initiated collaboration, including with other networks, and continues in 2017 with a new forum scheduled for end 2017. We also participated to the Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament, to show the presence of solidarity economy, but until today without a concrete return
EFSSE 2016 – www.efsse.org
Nesi Forum
A link has been established with the organizers of the NESI FORUM (New Economy Social Innovation – www.neweconomyforum.org). RIPESS Europe decided to participate as a co-promoter and bring the vision and practices of the SSE, with several speakers and participants. In 2016 the process of preparation was followed, starting from a meeting in London. The Forum took place in May 2017 in Malaga, with over 600 people participating from several “alter-economic” movements.
New Economy Social Innovation – www.neweconomyforum.org
Work of Advisory Board
Beyond the speeches at various events and institutions, RIPESS Europe has worked on two documents, involving several members of the network and the Advisory Board:
- Social innovation in Europe: what relation with solidarity economy? Towards a plural European vision of social innovation, January 2016
- Another document was produced at the end of 2016 on the European Pillar of Social Rights, in response to the European Commission’s public consultation, thanks in particular to the contribution of UFISC.
Members
AAE – An Ait Eile Cooperative
Country: Ireland
Activity: Association with the aim of fostering and facilitating the West of Ireland’s creative community
Website
Adepes – Agence au Service de l’Economie Solidaire en Midi-Pyrénées
Country: France
Activity: Regional network for the promotion of Solidarity Economy
Website
ANIMAR – Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimiento Local
Country: Portugal
Activity: Local Development Projects(rural – urban).Policy evaluation, capacity building
Website
APEAS – Agence Provençale pour une Economie Alternative et Solidaire
Country: France
Activity: Development of Alternative and Solidarity Economy
Website
SPREADI
Country: United Kingdom (UK)
Activity: Spreading Ideas and Innovation across boarders
Website
TECHNET BERLIN – Technologie Netzwerk Berlin
Country: Germany (DE)
Activity: Network for research and polivalent activities for SSE
Website
TPABA – Trava Education
Country: Russia (RU)
Activity: Discussions, workshops, informal conferences, excursions on politics and culture in St Petersburg
Website
TRENTINO ARCOBALENO – Economia solidale trentina
Country: Italy (IT)
Activity: Solidarity Economy network in Trentino
Website
UFISC – Union Fédérale d’Intervention des Structures Culturelles
Country: France (Fr)
Activity: artistic and cultural network promoting social solidarity economy
Website
URGENCI – Réseau Urbain-Rural: Générer des Échanges Nouveaux entre CItoyens
Country: France (Fr)
Activity: food sovereignty, alternative and solidarity-based consumers-producers networks.
Website
XES – Xarxa d’Economia Solidaria
Country: Spain (ES)
Activity: Promotion and Development of Solidarity Economy
Website
APES – Agence Provençale pour une Economie Alternative et Solidaire
Country: France (FR)
Activity: capacity building, knowledge/action support, advocacy for Solidarity Economy.
Website
APRES – GE Chambre de l’économie sociale et solidaire
Country: Switzerland (CH)
Activity: Regional Development
Website
AUTRE TERRE asbl
Country: Belgium (BE)
Activity: Local Development
Website
COMMONS.FI
Country: Finland (FE)
Activity: Building a commons and solidarity economy network
Website
CNLRQ – Comité National de Liaison des Régies de Quartier
Country: France (FR)
Activity: Local Development
Website
CRESAÇOR – Cooperativa Regional de Econimia Soidária CRL
Country: Portugal (PT)
Activity: Local Development
CRIES – Resource Centre for Ethical and Solidarity Initiatives
Country: Romania (RO)
Activity: Promotion of Solidarity Economy
Website
ECOSOL – socioeco
Country: Europe (based in France)
Activity: Online documentation and resources center on SSE
Website
ENERCOOP
Country: France
Activity: Network of 100%renewable energy cooperatives
Website
ENSIE – European Network of Social Integration Enterprises
Country: Europe (based in Belgium)
Activity: Promotion of social integration enterprises
Website
FAIR & BIO COOP – Fair & Bio, družstvo
Country: Czech Republic (CZ)
Activity: Fair-trade supporting Social and Sustainable Economy
Website
FAIRTRADE POLAND – Fairtrade Polska
Country: Poland (PL)
Activity: Fair-trade supporting Social and Sustainable Economy
Website
FORUM SOLIDARISCHE ÖKONOMIE
Country: Germany (D)
Activity: Promotion and Development of Solidarity Economy
Website
GOOD EARTH – Dobrazemja
Country: Macedonia (MK)
Activity: Consummer cooperative – Food sovereignty
Website
GOOD ECONOMY PLATFORM – Dobra Economija
Country: Croatia (HR)
Activity: Promotion of alternative economic system
Website
KIFESZ – KistérségiFejlesztőSzervezetek OrszágosSzövetsége
Country: Hungary (HU)
Activity: Regional Development
Website
KSOE – Katholische Sozialakademie Österreichse
Country: Austria (AU)
Activity: Academy of Education and Counselling
Website
INAISE – International Association of Investors in the Social Economy
Country: Europe (based in Belgium)
Activity: Global network of socially and environmentally oriented financial institutions
Website
INEES – Institut Européen pour l’Economie Solidaire
Country: Luxembourg (LU)
Activity: Promotion of Solidarity Economy
Website
Institute for Solidarity Economics
Country: United Kingdom (UK)
Activity: Provide infrastructure and financial support for research and populist education.
Website
MES – Mouvement de l’Economie Solidaire
Country: France
Activity: Research and Studies on Social and Solidarity Economy
Website
NETZ – NETZ für Selbstverwaltung und Selbstorganisation e.V
Country: Germany (DE)
Activity: Promotion and Support of Selforganisation and Solidarity Economy
Website
P’ACTES Européens
Country: Europe (based in France)
Activity: Learning by doing in Social Solidarity Economy
Website
REAS – Red de Redes de Economia Alternativa y Solidaria
Country: Spain
Activity: Networking and promotion of Solidarity Economy
Website
RES Italia – Rete di Economia Solidale (Tavolo RES)
Country: Italy (IT)
Activity: Network for the promotion of solidarity economy
Website
RIUESS – Réseau Inter Universitaire de L’Economie Sociale et Solidaire
Country: France
Activity: Research on Social and Solidarity Economy
Website
RTES – Réseau del collectives territoriales pour une économie solidaire
Country: France
Activity: Networking local authorities on SSE
Website
SAW- B – Solidarité des Alternatives Wallonnes et Bruxelloises
Country: Belgium
Activity: Capacity building, publishing, training on Social Solidarity Economy
SOLIDARITY 4 ALL
Country: Greece
Activity: Capacity building, supporting solidarity initiatives and networking for Solidarity Economy
Website
SOLIDARIUS Italia
Country: Italia
Activity: Capacity building in local development, training on Solidarity Economy
Website
REDPES – Rede Portuguesa de Economia Solidária
Country: Portugal
Activity: Network for the promotion of solidarity economy and local development
Website
IDEAS FACTORY
Country: Bulgaria
Activity: Education and Social Innovation
Website
EKUMAD-Ekumenik Academy of Prague
Country: Czech Republic
Activity: adult training and Networking in Eastern Europe
Website
DOCK – Social Solidarity Economy Zone
Country: Greece
Activity: Networking and promotion of SSE in Greece
Website
Biocamp
Country: Greece
Activity: Ethical and responsible tourism
Resources
From Ripess Europe:
- Contribution of RIPESS Europe – Solidarity Economy Europe To the European Commission public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights
- Social innovation in Europe: what relation with solidarity economy? Towards a plural European vision of social innovation,Jean-Louis Laville, Rogerio Roque Amaro, January 2016
- Manifesto of the Solidarity Economy Europe Network Barcelona 2011. The Globalisation of solidarity, Ripess Europe, September 2011
- Solidarity economy in Europe : an emerging movement with a common vision,European Summer School Prague, July 16-26, 2016, Jason Nardi
General resources:
- Declaration for a transforming Social and Solidarity Economy (GSEF)
- A European statute for Social and Solidarity-based Enterprise, Directorate General for Internal Policies Department C: Citizens’ rights and Constitutional Affaires Legal Affairs, European Parliament Antonio Fici, February 2017
- A New European Socioeconomic Perspective, Review of Social Economy, VOL. LXI, NO. 3, September 2003,Jean-Louis Laville
- Banks and microfinance in Europe, MicroFinance Europe n°7, June 2010
- Business Transfers to Employees under the Form of a Cooperative in Europe: Opportunities and Challenge, June 2013, CECOP-CICOPA
Executive Committee
- Dražen Šimleša, general coordinator
Good Economy Forum. Croatia. - Jason Nardi, general delegate
Solidarius. Italy. - Josette Combes, communications coordinator
MES Network. France. - Bruno Lasnier, Treasurer
MES National coordinator. France. - Eric Lavilluniere
INEES. Luxembourg. - Patrica Coler
UFISC. France. - Isabel Álvarez Vispo
URGENCI. - Berenice Dondeyne
ADEPES. France. - Luca Asperius
Forum Solidarische Ökonomie - Jean Rossiaud
APRES-GE. Switzerland. - Elena Tzamouranou
DOCK Zone. Greece. - Olivia Mailfert
APES HDF. France. - Luciane Dos Santos
REDPES. Portugal. - Laura Aufrere
Experta. France.
Contact us
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EMAIL: europe@ripess.org
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WEB: WWW.RIPESS.EU
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FACEBOOK: RIPESSEUROPE
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TWITTER: RIPESSEUROPE
Join RIPESS EUROPE
If your network or initiative is territorial, sectorial or inter-sectorial and would like to become a member of RIPESS Europe, you are welcome to join us. Your membership will strengthen the visibility of your structure at European level and will enable you to share your experience and practice with others.
