Towards the 2025 ELISAN General Assembly: Priorities for Social Inclusion at the Heart of the Debate

The 2025 General Assembly of ELISAN will be held online on Tuesday, 16 April 2025, from 10:00 to 13:30 (CET). This annual event continues to serve as a key platform for dialogue and collaboration among European local authorities and stakeholders dedicated to advancing social inclusion and fostering sustainable community development.

The Assembly will open at 10:00 with institutional addresses from representatives of the French Presidency, Jean Max Trouillet, Roberto Ciambetti, President of the Regional Council of the Veneto Region, and Manuela Lanzarin, Regional Minister for Social and Health Services.

The agenda features presentations from national representatives of France, Spain, Greece, Austria, and Italy, as well as contributions from international guests, including members of the Expert Committee and the Council of Europe’s Conference of INGOs, notably the Committee on Inclusive Territories, Environment and Health, and the Sports Committee.

Participants will also review ELISAN’s 2024–2025 Work Programme, shaped by the contributions of key partners including the French UNCCAS and UDCCAS networks, the Generalitat Valenciana, the Region of Carinthia, and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

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🔹 Key Highlight: European Projects and Strategic Partnerships

A dedicated session will showcase European projects and strategic collaborations that represent innovative and effective approaches to care and social inclusion:

• VALUE CARE, H2020 – This project promotes value-based, integrated care for older adults through a secure and scalable digital platform, co-designed with professionals and end-users. Piloted in multiple European countries, it demonstrates strong real-world impact.

• HOPE ERASMUS+ – Raising awareness about the growing health risks of heatwaves for older adults, this initiative supports inclusive emergency preparedness across healthcare and social care systems. A key feature includes the launch of a Heat Action Day.

• SACRED – ERASMUS+ Offers accessible e-learning and evidence-based training to healthcare professionals and students, focusing on the care of older adults with dementia, disabilities, or comorbidities.

• CASS YOUTH ERASMUS+ 2025 – Targets the specific challenges of young-onset dementia by supporting families in managing stress, sleep-related issues, and overall wellbeing in caregiving environments.

• LACE – ERASMUS+ Building on the success of the Erasmus-funded FORM Therapeutic Foster Care project, LACE (Learning Communities for Foster Parents: Working Together for the Wellbeing of Unaccompanied Minors) will establish collaborative networks involving foster parents, professionals, and migrant youth, encouraging mutual support and learning.

These initiatives—coordinated by leading institutions such as the Erasmus Medical Center of Rotterdam, the City of Rotterdam, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, and the SHAFE Foundation—reflect ELISAN’s strategic commitment to innovation, blending research, digital technology, and capacity-building to drive inclusion and resilience.

Further contributions will address topics such as the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development (2025) and updates on the Venice Declaration by the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) and IAE Argentina. Discussions will also benefit from insights provided by research institutions such as the Bruno Kessler Foundation, supporting future international cooperation and strategic alliances.

👉 [View the full agenda of the General Assembly]

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🔸 Cross-Cutting Priorities

Throughout the Assembly, key policy areas aligned with ELISAN’s mission will take center stage:

• Developing an integrated environmental, economic, and social framework for sustainable family development

• Addressing climate and health risks

• Promoting a green, inclusive, and circular economy

• Responding to demographic change and supporting active ageing

• Enhancing the social inclusion of vulnerable populations

• Exploring the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in the social sector