EUROPEAN REGION OF ICA

COMMUNIQUÉ
10 February 2010.

EU JIGSAW COMPLETE:
NEW TREATY, NEW PARLIAMENT AND NEW COMMISSION

“The approval of the new European Commissioners by the European Parliament

sees the last piece of the EU jigsaw falling into place. Along with the new
European Parliament (June 2009), the new Barroso Commission with its new
portfolios, the Lisbon Treaty and the prospects of a new Lisbon Strategy – EU
2020, the European Union can now get down to work to achieve social justice
and economic sustainability for all its citizens.”

COOPERATIVES EUROPE and its European Parliament ‘Coop Network’ closely followed the parliament’s
public hearings for the Commission nominees and whilst agreeing that there was of little real
substance in many of the Commissioner nominees answers, it notes with interest that Michel Barnier
(Internal Market & Services) said that he will be (among other initiatives) “... looking at the model of
co-operatives and mutuals in the context of giving fresh impetus to the ‘Internal Market’.”

Other replies of interest to co-operatives across Europe included the Commissioner designate for
Employment & Social Affairs – Lazlo Andor in the field of employment policy: “... New sources of
growth, such as the green economy, healthcare and social services, need to be considered, he said.
So does the promotion of training and life-long learning. “Co-operatives have a strong track record in
these areas.

And we welcome Antonio Tajani’s (Industry & Entrepreneuship) promise to speed up the ‘Small
Business Act’

The COOPERATIVES EUROPE EU Consultation Committee and its working groups will continue to
closely follow all relevant dossiers from the European Commission and will use its ‘support/contact
networks’ in the European Parliament and in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to
promote and defend the ‘co-operative enterprise model’. The Climate Change and Energy
projects will also be watching the developments of the relevant Commission directorates to ensure
that co-operatives across Europe can maintain their efforts to address the climate threat.

ENDS

For further information: a.mathis@coopseurope.coop

Co-operative enterprises are established with the dual aims of realizing economic success
and that of answering social objectives. They follow co-operative principles that are
guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
COOPERATIVES EUROPE represents 250 000 co-operative enterprises operating with 5,4
millions employees and 163 million members throughout Europe.

COOPERATIVES EUROPE ASBL ◊ COOPERATIVE HOUSE EUROPE ◊ AVENUE MILCAMPS 105 ◊ BE - 1000 BRUSSELS
TÉL. (32/2) 743 10 33 ◊ OFFICE@COOPSEUROPE.COOP