The Role and Impact of Cooperatives in the European Economy today

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1 The Role and Impact of Cooperatives in the European Economy today Berlin, 2 nd September, 2014 Dirk Lehnhoff President of Cooperatives Europe Member of the Board of DGRV 1

2 Cooperatives Europe Today s Agenda Cooperatives in Europe - Facts & Figures Cooperatives Europe Who we are What we do How to work together Cooperatives in Emerging Sectors The European Agenda Today The Way Forward 2

3 Cooperatives in Europe Cooperatives Europe THE European Representative Organisation of Cooperative Enterprises The Europe region of the International Cooperative Alliance 3

4 Cooperatives in Europe Facts & Figures 160,000 co-operatives (123 million members), among those: agricultural co-operatives representing approx. 50 % of total turnover (> 300 Mrd. EURO) in the sector 4,000 locally operating cooperative banks and 65,000 outlets: serving more than 176 million customers, mainly consumers, SMEs and communities representing 50 million members and 782,000 employees having an average market share of about 20% playing major role in the financial and economic system Representing between 2-10% of national GDP in most European countries 5,4 million jobs 4

5 Cooperatives in Europe Member Cooperators per Country 5

6 Cooperatives Europe - Who we are The Voice of Cooperatives in Europe The European Region of the International Cooperative Alliance 82 Members from 32 European Countries 7 European Cooperative Sector Organisations: National Apex Organisations National Sector Organisations Cooperative Enterprises Agriculture: Cogeca Banking: EACB Consumer & Retail: Euro Coop Housing: Cecodhas Industry & Services: Cecop Pharmacy: EUSP Renewables: RESCoop 6

7 Cooperatives Europe - Who we are Stakeholders EU Institutions Commission Parliament Council EESC 82 Member organisations Non-member coop organisations International Cooperative Alliance Opinion leaders Partners Research Like-Minded organisations Media 7

8 Cooperatives Europe - Who we are Member Groups NATIONAL COOPERATIVE ORGANISATIONS: some examples EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS: COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISES: UEPS

9 Cooperatives Europe What we do Our Role Representing cooperative enterprises in Europe Defending the interests of our members Strengthening the exchange and the collaboration between cooperatives in Europe 9

10 Cooperatives Europe - What we do Our Objectives Promote the cooperative business model and provide information, knowledge and network opportunities to our members via - Advocacy - Communication - Inter-Cooperation 10

11 Cooperatives Europe - What we do Our Activities Advocacy/Lobbying Communication Inter - Cooperation Business Environment (Legal, financial, fiscal) Key Policies (SME, financing, support services, education) To members To institutions, stakeholders and partners European cooperative development International cooperation Membership Existing members Engagement opportunities New Members Prospecting & Promotion 11

12 Cooperatives Europe - What we do Our Current Focus Advocacy / Lobbying Communication Internat. Cooperation EU Coop Roadmap Financing Entrepreneurship/Educ. Support Services Policy Support Coop Legislation Energy & Development Monitoring Accounting Norms Social Economy Members Newsletter Reports (annual, topics) Website EU Institutions Policy Documents Consultations Press Release Stakeholders/Partners Website & Social Media European Coop Development Country (Greece) Regional (Balkans) Sector (energy) Internat. Cooperation EU Network Project ICA Regions 12

13 Cooperatives Europe How to work together Engagement Opportunities with Cooperatives Europe Governance Committee / Working Groups Staff Exchange Meetings Presidency Board General Assembly EU Coordination Committee EU Lobbying Working Groups Development Energy Ad-hoc Expertise Accounting, Taxes, CSR Secondees Office Sharing Projects Coop Development Energy (Rescoop.eu) Individual Meetings Joint Events Workshops Conferences 13

14 Cooperatives Europe How to work together Our Priorities for 2014 / 2015 Promotion & Support for cooperative enterprise model in Europe - EU Parliament network group coopsupporters - EU Cooperative roadmap with EU Commission - Monitoring of EU policies of concern to cooperatives Implementation of Cooperative Blue Print (of ICA) in Europe - Benchmarking of Cooperative Competences - Member Exchange 14

15 Cooperatives Europe Cooperatives Reloaded in Emerging Sectors Renewable energy cooperatives developing in Europe, especially in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, UK, Denmark etc. as a driver of the energy transition Strong development of cooperatives in health & education sector due to retreat of public sector and as part of stakeholder economy (e.g. more than 600 school cooperatives in UK, teacher cooperatives in Spain and student cooperatives in Germany) Importance of social cooperatives in Southern Europe to integrate disadvantaged people into the labor market and to provide social services (more than currently in Italy) 15

16 Cooperatives Europe The European Agenda Today A cooperative footprint within the EU 2020 Agenda for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth EU Cooperative Roadmap with EU Commission on Financing, Support Services & Cooperative Entrepreneurship/Education A strong EU Parliament Support Group after 2014 Elections Linking European Agenda with national implementation + A cooperative blueprint for a cooperative decade by 2020 Communicating our identity and strengthening our image Regionally anchored cooperatives with international networks Economic & social impact through value-based business model 16

17 Cooperatives Europe The Way Forward Cooperative Qualities: Sound business through prudent risk policies and long-term view Membership value optimization rather than shareholder profit maximization Stakeholder finance & locally rooted membership/ownership For Today s and Tomorrow s Challenges The change of member/citizen needs & aspirations Rural exodus & uncontrolled urbanization Ageing Population The end of a one size fits all regulatory & business approach 17

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19 THANK YOU Dirk Lehnhoff Cooperative House Europe avenue Milcamps 105 B 1030 Bruxelles

20 The Cooperative Way of Doing Business People-Centered and Member-Oriented A Business based on Values & Cooperative Principles Self-Help via Ownership of cooperative Self-Control via Democratic Governance Autonomy through Local Roots Solidarity through Cooperation Empowerment of our Members 20

21 Building a smarter & more inclusive Economy in Europe Focus on People s Needs Preserving EMPLOYMENT (coop industry & services) RESILIENCE in financial crisis (coop banking) Co-operative Development Model People driven INNOVATION (social and energy coops) COMPETITIVE local infrastructure (rural development)

22 Cooperatives Europe Who we are Cooperative sectors in Europe EU organised Co-operative Sectors Banking: EACB Emerging Co-operative Sectors Agriculture: COGECA Consumer & Retail: Euro Coop Industry & Services: CECOP Housing: CECODHAS Pharmacy: EUSP Renewables: REScoop + Education Health Services Tourism & Culture

23 Image of Cooperatives in 2014 In particular in the 1990s and the early 2000s Cooperatives have often been perceived as: Old Fashioned and Dusty A relict of the past in the attic of economic history books A dying business model (through demutualization) then came the Financial & Economic Crisis of 2008 onwards And Cooperatives became more popular again: - Due to their more stable and resilient economic performance during the crisis - As the preferred business form for new collaborative enterprises - Through more promotion during the UN International Year of Cooperatives 23