This publication is the executive summary of the study "Societies outside Metropolises: the role of civil society organisations in facing populism", that shows that economic decline, social instability and limited levels of education are significant factors in explaining the increase in support for populists throughout the EU, but that there are also more complex and interdependent matters to be considered. This is why civil society organisations have a key role to play in fighting populism.

This publication is a summary of the preliminary findings of the study commissioned by the Diversity Europe Group and conducted by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), entitled Societies outside Metropolises – The role of civil society organisations in facing populism. It aims at identifying the factors influencing citizens’ choices in favor of populism in societies in non-metropolitan areas. It also highlights the role played by CSOs in preventing and opposing populism.

Since the end of last decade, several institutions of the European Union have called for public policies to boost the social economy at the European, national and regional levels. In this context and also in the context of the last crisis, a new generation of public policies for the social economy have emerged during this decade. The present study outlines a diversified selection of successful practices in public policies regarding the Social Economy across different European countries.

This publication provides a short overview of the successes of the mandate of the outgoing President of the Various Interests Group, Mr Luca Jahier, over the last seven and a half years (October 2010 to April 2018). 'Achievements of the Presidency of Luca Jahier' outlines the main thematic events organised by the Various Interests Group and the Categories which it manages, it informs on studies and publications commissioned by the EESC at the request of the Various Interests Group and on its successful communication strategies.