Germany
Germany
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EconomyB20 final recommendations highlight co-ops’ potential in employment, SMEs growth and education
The B20's final set of policy recommendations to the G20 includes mentions of how the co-op model can contribute in different sectors
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EconomyEurope, renewables and the future of community energy
In its recently released Clean Energy Package, the European Commission finally acknowledged that energy communities – such as co-operatives – have a major role to play in Europe’s energy transition. On 30 November, 2016, the...
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EconomyBook review: How Germany’s energy revolution solves more than just climate change
The first chapter of Energy Democracy is titled ‘Energiewende: The Solution to More Problems than Climate Change’. This sets the tone of the book – for the success of Germany’s energy transition (‘Energiewende’) project lies...
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Banking and InsuranceHow should co-operative banks deal with the negative rates dilemma?
A small German co-operative bank, Raiffeisenbank Gmund, has introduced a negative interest rate on deposits. Well, not all deposits. Just large ones. Very large ones, in fact. The little bank, in picturesque Tegernsee in the Bavarian...
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CommunityNIMBYism, co-operatives and Germany’s Energy Transition
The number of energy co-operatives in Germany has grown from eight to over 800 in a decade – the sector has 160,000 members and now accounts for 10% of all German co-ops. One of the reasons...
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CommunityFood share co-op in Berlin faces closure
A co-operative in Berlin aims to stop food waste in the city through a simple initiative of sharing food – but it faces a stiff challenge to keep running. Foodsharing began in 2012. Every day,...
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EnergyThe highs and lows of community energy across Europe
As the great and the good of Europe’s community energy movement gathered in Paris at COP21. There was a palpable sense of optimism given the successful development of the Paris Agreement, and the encouragement this...
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Banking and InsuranceCo-op banks merge to create Germany’s third biggest bank
Germany’s two central co-operative banks,WGZ Bank and DZ Bank are to merge, forming the country’s third largest bank by assets. The co-operative financial sector in Germany has 18 million members, with co-op banks being the main lenders to...
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Banking and InsuranceMonique Leroux takes part in G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women
Desjardins chair, president and chief executive Monique Leroux joined 30 other leaders last month for the G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women in Berlin, organised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The forum brought 62 leaders from 29...
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CommunitySupporters’ trust collects goods for refugees
FC United supporters have led a campaign to collect goods for refugees that have made their way to Europe. For this action the co-operatively owned football club has worked with Refugee Action, a charity that...