President : Etienne Pflimlin

Secretariat Contact: Agnes Mathis Deputy Director, Cooperatives Europe

Co-operative enterprises are established with the dual aims of realising economic success and that of answering social objectives. They follow co-operative principles that are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

These principles are Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Member Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Co-operation among Co-operatives, Concern for Community.

“Cooperatives Europe” represents 160 000 co-operative enterprises operating with 5, 4 millions employees and 123 million members through Europe.

“Cooperatives Europe” objectives are to support and develop co-operative enterprises across Europe by:

 enhancing co-operative identity, visibility and recognition of their difference and added value,

 recognition of co-operatives as main economic and social partners at EU institutional level,

 developing a strong co-operative system in the enlarged EU and Europe region.