Building back better with cooperatives around the world

Considering that the EU leaders made a decision on the EU recovery package on July 21st, Cooperatives Europe is releasing a position paper and recommendations for policy makers on the next phase of the budget negotiations surrounding international development and the COVID-19 crisis.

This paper entitled ‘Building back better: cooperatives as key international development partners during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond’ and written within the framework of the ICA-EU Partnership on international development (#coops4dev) and in collaboration with the Cooperatives Europe Development Platform (CEDP) is a follow-up on our position paper regarding COVID-19. 
 
The COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of fostering sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development. Cooperatives, as a business model that looks beyond growth, contribute to the formalisation of the informal sector while being locally anchored, and have a proven record of providing stable employment even in uncertain times. 
 
Therefore, cooperatives can be excellent partners for addressing the socio-economic fallout of this crisis, and while putting people and communities at the heart of the green transition, engaging actively in the external dimensions of the Green Deal.

Particularly in these complicated times, it is of the utmost importance that their voice is included in the policy debate on EU development and international cooperation.