Euro Coop Board Meeting in Sofia

On 26 February, Euro Coop’s Board met in Sofia to discuss key strategic matters, governance updates, and ongoing initiatives. The meeting was followed by a thematic roundtable on co-operative tourism and a visit to Bulgaria’s first fully automated co-operative store.

The Board established three working groups—Communications and Identity, Public Policy, and Coop2Coop—to advance the association’s key workstreams for 2025. In governance matters, the Board confirmed that Co-operatives UK will host the 2025 General Assembly on 3 July, coinciding with the ICA GA and Co-op Congress. 

Ongoing work included reviewing the European Commission’s Work Programme to guide consumer co-operative representation, presenting a draft induction manual and standing orders for future adoption, and updating the strategy for the International Year of Cooperatives, EU-funded projects, and financial matters.

A thematic roundtable focused on co-operative tourism, where Euro Coop members developing travel services discussed plans for a joint platform offering co-op travel packages. Representatives from CCU-Bulgaria, Gromada and Spolem Poland, Your Co-op Travel (Midcounties), and Coop Cyprus reviewed technical aspects and set a timeline for alignment.

Euro Coop delegates also visited CCU-Bulgaria’s newly opened automated store, the first of its kind in the country. The manless store operates via COOP member card access, automated checkout, and CCTV surveillance. CCU-Bulgaria plans to expand this model nationwide.

Euro Coop continues to drive collaboration and innovation within the consumer co-operative movement across Europe and thanks the host CCU Bulgaria for the warm hospitality.