International Co-operative Alliance signs agreement with European Commission

The International Co-operative Alliance has signed a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission that will help advance the co-operative sector across the world. As part of the...

The International Co-operative Alliance has signed a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission that will help advance the co-operative sector across the world.

As part of the agreement, the Commission is backing the Alliance’s programme “Co-operatives in development – people-centred businesses in action”, which will run until 31 August 2020. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union as part of its commitment to support civil society organisations active in development.

The agreement recognises co-operatives as strong development actors and aims to further strengthen the global movement, enhance its visibility and increase its capacity to influence global and regional development policies.

The Alliance’s representatives signed the agreement on 18 March with EU Commissioner in charge of International Co-operation and Development, Neven Mimica.

The collaboration follows on from Cooperatives Europe’s work, the regional office of the Alliance. Launched last year, the Cooperatives Europe Development Platform has helped promote the potential of co-operative enterprises in the field of international development.

EU Commissioner in charge of International Co-operation and Development, Neven Mimica with Alliance director general, Charles Gould
EU Commissioner in charge of International Co-operation and Development, Neven Mimica with Alliance director general, Charles Gould

 

“We are proud to have lead the whole global co-operative movement into a partnership with the European Commission on international development”, said Klaus Niederländer, director of Cooperatives Europe. “By casting light over what co-operatives were already doing in development it attracted the attention of the EU and highlighted the potential for collaboration to move forward together”.

Alliance president, Monique Leroux, added: ”Co-operatives are highly relevant in the realisation of United Nations’ sustainable development goals. They provide access to credit, rural electrification, health care services, food production, marketing, housing, new-business support — all of which contribute to income development and security. Europe’s support of our programme, is a new step in implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud and eager to launch the Co-operatives in Development programme.”

Co-ops can help shape the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda

Charles Gould, director general of the Alliance, said: “We thank the European Commission for electing the Alliance as a civil society partner. We are pleased that the global structure of the International Co-operative Alliance – its membership, its governance, its organisation – but also the purpose and impact of its actions have convinced the European Commission that co-operatives are a lever for sustainable development.”

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