Youth Voices, Cooperative Choices: Advancing a Democratic Economy in Enlarged Europe

Join us in Budapest from 29 June to 1 July  2026 for an event dedicated to the next generation of European cooperative leaders. Hosted by Cooperatives Europe together with its member DiákÉSZ under the #Coops4dev🌍 ICA-EU Partnership, this youth-led gathering will bring together +100 participants among young entrepreneurs, practitioners and policymakers to showcase the power of cooperation in advancing a democratic people-centred economy across the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Venue: Central Budapest, Hungary
Dates: 29 June to 1 July  2026
Hosted by: Cooperatives Europe, YECN, and DiákÉSZ

Register here

Why this event 

The UN International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported a rising share of youth NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in Eastern Europe in 2023. Eurofound (2024) further highlights that youth unemployment remains a persistent issue across the Western Balkans and Türkiye, with young women facing additional barriers due to limited access to education and training. These regions also grapple with a historical perception of the cooperative economy as outdated, hierarchical, and confined to niche sectors. Since 2006, Cooperatives Europe, as the European network and region of the International Cooperative Alliance, has been addressing this narrative by promoting the model’s modern relevance, inclusivity, and potential for youth-led economic innovation. 

Cooperative enterprises emerge as key partners in this process, offering a bottom-up business model rooted in collective action, democratic governance, and education and training. By linking economic productivity to social values, cooperatives provide young generations with an alternative, participatory pathway to contribute to the subregions’ economic resilience and European integration. Their approach complements the ongoing systemic efforts promoted notably by the European Union and the ILO through initiatives like the Youth Guarantee Scheme, aimed at facilitating youth access to the labour markets. 

However, a significant challenge is the lack of intergenerational awareness and exchange about the advantages of the cooperative business model. Many young people are unaware of how cooperatives can empower them as owners, decision-makers, and beneficiaries of shared economic success. Addressing this gap requires targeted efforts to showcase cooperatives as modern, dynamic, and relevant to today’s economic and social needs. 

The ICA study (2021) on youth and cooperatives emphasizes the need for: tailored support for youth-led cooperatives, capacity-building programs, policy dialogue to create enabling environments. Organised in the framework of #coops4dev🌍, the event Youth Voices, Cooperative Choices: Advancing Democratic Economy in Enlarged Europe” turn these three recommendation in three days of learning, action and networking to shape the next generation of young European leaders.

Our objectives 

1. Foster intergenerational Dialogue

We will bring together young cooperative leaders and entrepreneurs, policymakers, and practitioners from within and beyond the cooperative movement. This gathering will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative models of youth entrepreneurship, with a focus on the Western Balkans and Eastern European countries (Moldova, Turkiye, Ukraine). 

2. Turn Perception into Action

By connecting youth’s lived experiences with national and European policies and programs, we aim to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing youth-led cooperatives. Participants will share best entrepreneurial practices, design cooperative development toolkits and develop policy recommendations towards an enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship across Europe. 

3. Empower the Next Generation

Through a mentor-mentee approach embedded in each session, we will offer a space where each participant can actively contribute to the discussions. We will provide training on the cooperative business model and governance to equip young entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders with the skills needed to economically contribute to their local communities.

By fostering a shared commitment to youth entrepreneurship, this event will raise awareness of the cooperative business model, enhance its perception and narrative, and promote decent work for current and future generations. Together, we are committed to advancing a democratic people-centred economy that recognises and rewards youth leaders towards a more inclusive and resilient Europe.

Programme (A detailed agenda will be soon available)

Who Should/Will Attend?

• Young (cooperators) entrepreneurs: Both current cooperators and those curious about the model.
• Institutional partners: Representatives from the European and United Nations’ ecosystems, and national ministries.
• Partner organisations: cooperative organisations, civil society organisations, incubators, and academic scouts for socio-economic innovation.

Registration

Register here

Note: There is no registration fee. To support international participation, travel and accommodation will be covered for 35 international participants. Eligibility and sponsorship details will be determined by the organising team (Cooperatives Europe and DiákÉSZ) based on applications received. Catering is provided for all participants. 

• 1st-24th May: Revision of submissions to agenda (this form is closed) by organizing team (CoopsEurope, Diakesz)
• 24th-31st May: Mail confirmation with practical information on accommodation, including amount of financial support granted (none; accommodation; traveling; accommodation & traveling)

About #coops4dev🌍

This event is part of the European activities by Cooperatives Europe under the ICA-EU Partnership #coops4dev🌍, a global program between the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the European Commission aimed at strengthening cooperatives as key partners and actors in the advancement of the UN Agenda2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals.

In Europe, this partnership has been the engine behind Cooperatives Europe’s long-standing commitment to the power of cooperation across the Western Balkans and Eastern European countries. It builds directly upon its previous work in the region to ensure that the cooperative model is considered as a sustainable economic tool to position the communities across the region – with emphasis on the youth – as leaders of an inclusive people-centred economic development.

This article has been co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of  Cooperatives Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.