The European Parliament’s study on Social Economy assesses the important role the social economy plays in the EU, shaping a detailed background made up of data, legal frameworks and best practices.

Priority policies identified to reach the full potential of the sector include:

1) digital transformation of social economy,

2) enabling EU cross-sectorial regulatory and financial frameworks, and

3) improving definitions and developing indicators – alternatives to GDP – to focus policies on EU added-value.

The European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES aisbl) is mentioned as an important step towards the creation of cooperation channels, based on the principle of‪ partnership between local and regional authorities and territorial social economy organizations (see par.4.2.3 page 65).

The document is available at the following link:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/578969/IPOL_STU(2016)578969_EN.pdf