European co-ops have responded to the strategy set forward by the president-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on 10 September.
The new European Commission takes over in November, and Ms von der Leyen wants it to reduce administrative burdens on business and cut red tape – applying the principle of “one in, one out”.
She said she envisions a geopolitical Commission, committed to sustainable policies and making Europe the world’s first climate neutral continent.
“We want to bring new impetus to Europe’s democracy,” she said. “It is about having your voice heard and being able to participate in the way society is built.”
Cooperatives Europe, the regional office of the International Co-operative Alliance, welcomed Ms von der Leyen’s plans on climate, technology and “building an economy that works for people”. In particular, it praised the Commission’s focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
It also calls on the Commission to include co-operatives and other social economy enterprises in its policy scope, to help them grow, scale up, and contribute to a sustainable Europe.
“We would like to reaffirm the necessity to develop and implement an inclusive and efficient SME strategy, a priority of the commissioner for internal markets,” read the statement published by Cooperatives Europe.
In terms of energy policy, Cooperatives Europe welcomed the Commission’s plans to enable citizens and co-ops to play an increased role in renewable energy generation for self-consumption. A member of Cooperatives Europe, Rescoop.eu has been campaigning for unleashing the power of community renewable energy.
Cooperatives Europe supports the Commission’s plans to prioritise the inclusion of civil society organisations. It says co-operatives are political and instrumental partners for the EU in implementing Agenda 2030 but warns that building “comprehensive partnerships” that are “value for money” must not prevail over the value-driven approach.
Jean-Louis Bancel, president of Cooperatives Europe, said: “Co-operatives, as democratic enterprises, contribute to the economic and social development of Europeans citizens. Consequently, the European co-operative movement will support and commit in this process.”
The new commission is due to take office on 1 November. Ahead of this, the commissioners will be questioned by MEPs between 30 September and 8 October, following which the Parliament will vote on their appointment. The European Council will formally appoint the European Commission acting by qualified majority.
Copa-Cogeca, which represents European farmers and agri co-ops, welcomed the list of candidates released by Ms von der Leyen.
Pekka Pesonen, Copa and Cogeca secretary general, said: “We welcome the proposed list of candidates released today by European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen. We are pleased to see Commissioner Hogan taking on EU trade policy and we have no doubt that he will continue to defend the interests of European Agriculture in his new position. We also welcome the appointment of Janusz Wojciechowski, Stella Kyriakides, Johannes Hahn and Frans Timmermans, with whom we would be delighted to work on topics such as agriculture, health, budget and the Green Deal. Mr Wojciechowski has proven experience in both agricultural matters and the functioning of the European institutions. He would have the responsibility of driving forward European farming policy at a pivotal point in time which is defined by generation renewal, low farm income, market volatility, trade and climate change.
“At this stage, more than the name of future Commissioners, this is the proposed spread of portfolios that gives European farmers and agri co-operative the right signal. In this regard, we are glad to notice that the DGs AGRI, SANTE and TRADE kept coherent attributions and that the coordination regarding climate action will be improved. We are now waiting for the hearings of the candidate Commissioners and the working programme of the future commission.”
