Who we are
RIPESS Europe – Solidarity Economy Europe, was born from the synergy produced by the meetings of the Globalisation of Solidarity organised by the intercontinental network RIPESS Intercontinental, the first of which took place in Lima in 1997. The 4th International Forum of “Globalisation of Solidarity”, Lux’09, which took place in Schifflange in April 2009, led to the launching of a dynamic by establishing trust and shared-knowledge between networks of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) at continental and intercontinental levels. During this meeting, Eric Lavillunière (INEES) and Christine Gent (WFTO) initiated the structuring of a European RIPESS platform.
In Barcelona, in 2011, RIPESS Europe was born. It included representatives of networks from Belgium, Catalonia, France, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Germany.
News from Europe—
Support the European Citizens’ Initiative for the Right to Food: Access to adequate, safe, sustainable and nutritious food is a fundamental human right
The access to adequate, safe, sustainable and nutritious food is a fundamental human right. However, this right is still not guaranteed in the European Union. The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) for the Right to Food, promoted by the European movement GOOD FOOD FOR ALL, seeks to change this reality and place this right at the centre of European public policies. [...]
Building alternatives and fighting fascism: voices from the U.S. Social Solidarity Economy in Barcelona
Next Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Ateneu L’Harmonia (Sant Andreu, Barcelona), the event “Building alternatives and fighting fascism. A report from the USA” will take place—an international dialogue space to reflect on current challenges in the United States and the responses being built by social movements and organizations, such as the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The [...]
Round table on ‘Food Social Security’ at the GSEF in Bordeaux
Urgenci, as thematic member of the coordination of RIPESS Intercontinental Board of Directors, participated in the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum (GSEF) in Bordeaux at the end of October, as well as in the prior Board meeting and meeting with new partners WSM, INSP!R and WIEGO. The main Urgenci contribution to GSEF was a Round Table organized with RIPESS [...]



