As a European Commission took office on 27 November, apex body Cooperatives Europe said it was looking forward to working with the new team.
The new president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, leads a group of 27 commissioners. In her speech to the European Parliament, she called for a European Green Deal, more innovation, a digital revolution and a strong social market economy.
She also pledged further integration of the capital markets of the member states to “improve access to finance for small businesses and start-ups to let them grow, innovate and take the risks they need”.
Jean Louis Bancel, president of Cooperatives Europe, said: “We welcome the new European Commission following the in depth and prospective hearings by the members of the European Parliament.
“The European co-operative movement is eager to work with the new Commissioners and to demonstrate the influential role of co-operatives in the everyday lives and the future of European citizens.
“Since co-operatives are active in many economic, social and cultural fields, Cooperatives Europe, in conjunction with its members, such as the national federations, is ready to involve itself in an active policy making, to build European iInstitutions that work for all European citizens.”
A total of 461 MEPs voted in favour of the new commission, with 157 votes against and 89 abstentions.
