Co-operatives in Enterprise Europe

Summary:

This Consultation Document is about co-operative enterprises in the European Union (EU) and in the wider Europe and how they fulfil the needs and aspirations of their members and other stakeholders. It considers the difficulties co-operatives face due to their specific character, and the contribution they can make to European economy and society. The role and importance of co-operative enterprises in the economic, social and cultural life of European Union is acknowledged. However a detailed analyses of particular sectors in which co-operatives are active or important has been avoided in favour of an analysis of the characteristics that are common to all co-operatives and influence their development.

The document suggests orientations for potential future Community policies and activities to reinforce the contribution of co-operative enterprises towards improving European competitiveness and to achieving a wide range of other objectives of the European Union. The document makes recommendations of relevance to the regulation of co-operatives in Member States where appropriate. It also draws attention to the need for more enabling and comprehensive European regulation in the form of the European Co-operative Statute.

European Commission: DG Enterprise: Consultation Document "Co-operatives in Enterprise Europe" https://web.archive.org/web/20021017114929/http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/coop/consultation/index.htm

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