COPE

A significant part of the EU economy is nowadays known as social economy. Social Economy approach indicates that the major goal of the belonging organisations is to serve members of the community rather than to seek profit. Moreover, the social economy relies on democratic decision-making processes, which represent a structural procedure to control the actual pursuit of the organisation’s goals. Among the organisations belonging to the social economy one can find associations, cooperatives and mutual organisations and, more recently, also foundations and social enterprises. The social economy operates a very broad number of commercial activities, provides a wide range of products and services across the European market and generates millions of jobs. Social enterprises and cooperatives are also an engine for social innovation and they are promoters of sustainable development, democratic structure and equitable distribution of economic results.

Throughout Europe there is a long tradition of cooperative business, around 250.000 cooperatives in the EU territory employing 5.4 million people. Despite the great weight of this social economy there is still a great need in increasing the number of cooperatives and promoting social businesses for a more sustainable development.
Besides, the diffusion of cooperatives model and the social economies is in line with the EU commitment on the implementing of Sustainable Development Goals since the proposed models can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through a more sustainable development.
The diffusion of the cooperative model can be the engine for social innovation, through innovative start-ups answering to people’s needs and can bring local development and contribute in the long term to the reduction of unemployment.