UN Recognises Cooperatives with Decadal International Year

Euro Coop warmly welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s historic resolution to proclaim an International Year of Cooperatives every ten years. This milestone recognises the vital role of cooperatives in promoting sustainable development, social inclusion, and economic resilience worldwide. It underscores the importance of cooperative enterprises in building fairer and more inclusive societies. The UN’s decision builds on the impact of the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 and the most recent UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, which brought unprecedented focus to cooperatives, with events and activities convening stakeholders from governments, UN agencies, civil society, and cooperative enterprises. 

Consumer cooperatives, at the heart of Euro Coop’s network, are people-centred enterprises that prioritise the needs of their members and communities. They provide fair access to goods, promote responsible consumption, and support local economies, demonstrating every day how cooperative principles can generate tangible social and economic benefits. This UN recognition highlights the value of these contributions on a global stage, inspiring wider appreciation of cooperative business models.

Euro Coop celebrates this resolution as a significant step for the global cooperative movement. It reinforces the positive impact of consumer cooperatives across Europe and beyond and serves as a reminder of the ongoing role cooperatives play in creating stronger, more resilient communities. As the cooperative movement continues to grow and innovate, Euro Coop remains committed to championing consumer cooperatives and sharing their achievements with the wider world.