Claude Moraes MEP, a Cooperative MEP welcomes the De Rossa report on 'Workers' Rights' in Co-operatives across the EU

The European Parliament has today adopted a Report drawn up by Proinsias DE ROSSA, (PES, Ireland), calling for greater workers' rights in European co-operative societies, which may be registered under a new European Co-operative law.

Mr DE ROSSA'S report focuses on extending and improving the participation of trades unions in European co-operatives. He calls for gender balance in the selection and election of representatives, and for annual meetings between management and employee representatives to deal with the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Speaking during the Parliament's debate on his Report Mr DE ROSSA said: "We can now look forward to working closely with those involved in co-operatives across the European Union to further develop the social economy. The adoption of this Report represents a significant step forward in building a strong European social model drawing on the example of a truly democratic European Co-operative Society structure.

"The estimated 9 million people employed in the Social Economy across the Member States have waited far too long for progress on this matter and I know that the many employees and members of co-operatives will particularly welcome the progress we have now made. It is estimated by the European Commission that there are 130,000 co-operatives in the EU, with an estimated membership of 8 million. It is also estimated that co-operatives in the production and consumer areas alone have over 78 million members in the EU. It's certainly high-time we introduced measures to enable them to organise themselves on a pan-European basis.

"The Social Economy is an important sector in terms of employment and GDP, and co-operatives play an important part of the Social Economy as a whole. By facilitating, at long last, the formation of European co-operatives, we will be sending a positive message to the Co-operative Movement. This will have a particular impact on the emerging Co-operative Movement in the candidate countries and it will serve to strengthen the European social model through the enlarged European Union."

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