Industrial Cooperatives: a tool for the challenge of inclusive and sustainable competitiveness

European Commission & Joint Research Centre

Communications

• Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030 – European Commission Communication (16 March 2023)
• Updating the 2020 New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe’s recovery – European Commission Communication (5 May 2021)

Infopages

• A new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness – European Commission priorities info page (2024)
• Industry 5.0 – European Commission info page (2023)
• European Cooperative Society (SCE) – European Commission info page (2008)

Reports

• First annual report on key findings from the European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems (EMI) – European Commission Staff Working Document (14 February 2024)
• Industry 5.0, a transformative vision for Europe – European Commission Policy Brief, ESIR Expert Group (13 January 2022)
• The application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003 of 22 July 2003 on the Statute for a European Cooperative Society (SCE) – European Commission Report (2012)

Specific subjects / Inclusion and people

• An economy that works for people – European Commission priorities, info page (2024)
• Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model – European Commission priorities info page (2024)

Joint Research Centre

• Analyzing perspectives on capital, mutual, and general interest: A comparative study of energy cooperatives in Belgium and Italy - JRC Publication Repository (2024) [available here]
• Sustainable practices in cocoa production. The role of certification schemes and farmer cooperatives – JRC Publication Repository (2024) [available here]
• Measuring transition to a competitive and sustainable economy – JRC Policy Brief (March 2024)

European Parliament and Council of the European Union

Legislation and Resolutions

• An EU strategy to boost industrial competitiveness, trade and quality jobs – European Parliament Resolution (16 February 2023)
• The implementation of the Updated New Industrial Strategy for Europe: aligning spending to policy – European Parliament Resolution (15 September 2022)
• Statute for a European Cooperative Society (SCE) – Council of the European Union Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003 (22 July 2003) [summary here]
• Supplementing the Statute for a European Cooperative Society with regard to the involvement of employees – Council of the European Union Directive 2003/72/EC (22 July 2003)

European Parliament

• General Principles of EU Industrial Policy – European Parliament Factsheet (2023)

Council of the European Union

• EU industrial policy – Council info page (2024)

Additional Articles, Studies and Reports

• Fostering Europe's prosperity and industrial transformation: Cooperatives as drivers of change – Conference of the European Commission (18 March 2025)
• Reboot Europe – Europe's economic success, everyone's business – BusinessEurope report (15 January 2025)
• 2025 Designated as the UN International Year of Cooperatives – UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (25 February 2024) [website of the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives here]
• World Cooperative Monitor 2023: exploring the cooperative economy - EURICSE and International Cooperative Alliance Report (2024) [executive summary here]
• Cooperatives in social development – Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly (19 December 2023)
• Building green industries demands urgent investment and solidarity – IndustriAll Position Paper (30 May 2023)
• Measuring Cooperatives – International Labour Organization (2022)
• A New SME Strategy: for an inclusive SME strategy at the EU level – Cooperatives Europe Position Paper (11 March 2020)
• New strategy for EU SMEs to support coops – Cooperatives Europe (15 December 2020)
• Cooperatives and Employment  – International Cooperative Alliance Global Report (25 September 2017)
• The implementation of the Statute for European Cooperative Society – Executive Summary of the study of Cooperatives Europe and EURICSE (05 October 2010)

European Committee of the Regions

Related CoR Opinions

• CDR-1691-2015 - The role of Social Economy in restoring economic growth and combating unemployment (2015) – opinion calling for a proposal for a directive and legal framework of cooperatives, foundations, mutual societies and associations.