On 15 and 16 October, Cooperatives Europe celebrated its twentieth anniversary with an event entitled “What’s the next chapter towards economic democracy?”, which took place at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. Over two days, nearly 200 participants reflected on twenty years of collective action and on how cooperatives can contribute to a more competitive, inclusive and resilient Europe.
The event was opened by Giuseppe Guerini, President of Cooperatives Europe, who described cooperatives as social and economic infrastructures and defended their role in strengthening democracy. He stated that people’s participation in economic decision-making is essential to also strengthening trust in political institutions.
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, noted that cooperatives would be key partners in the European Commission’s forthcoming Right to Stay Strategy, scheduled for early 2027. This Strategy is a Commission initiative aimed at tackling rural depopulation and territorial imbalances within the European Union.
Economic democracy, a strategic priority
The second day was focused on exploring in greater depth the relationship between economic democracy, equality and competitiveness. Professor Andrew Cumbers of the University of Glasgow took part, presenting the study “Building Economic Democracy in Europe”. The study links higher levels of economic democracy to more equal societies.
Enrico Letta, former Italian Prime Minister and President of the Jacques Delors Institute, also took part in the anniversary celebrations, highlighting the importance of economic integration and the role of cooperatives in ensuring European sovereignty.
Two panel discussions were also held to examine the contribution of cooperatives to resilient territories, particularly in the energy and agri-food sectors, as well as their role in workplace democracy and the financing of transitions. Once again, participants stressed the need for cooperatives to be given a prominent place in the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, planned for 2028–2034.
Awards for innovation and community impact
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the #CoopAnniversaryAwards, whose winners were selected by public vote. The Belgian cooperative Ecopower received the award in the Cooperative Governance category, while Genç İşi Kooperatif, from Türkiye, won in the People and Community Impact category.
In parallel, on 15 October, the workshop “Building the evidence of the European cooperative contribution to sustainable development” was held as part of the collaboration between the International Cooperative Alliance and the EU, and the #coops4dev programme. Participants discussed the need to improve the available data and strengthen the legal recognition of the cooperative model.
The anniversary concluded with a clear message: economic democracy is not merely a cooperative value, but also a strategic asset for building a more equal, competitive and sustainable Europe.
