Cooperatives Europe calls for the preservation of CASES in Portugal 

The Portuguese government has announced its intention to withdraw from CASES – Cooperativa António Sérgio para a Economia Social, following a Council of Ministers Resolution adopted on 28 November 2025 in the context of a broader ministerial reform. 

This decision would lead to the disappearance of the national entity that promotes and accredits the cooperative sector in Portugal, putting at risk more than 15 years of accumulated expertise in cooperative development and social economy policy. 

The role of CASES for cooperatives 

Created in 2009 as a public-interest cooperative, CASES was designed as a partnership between the State and representative organisations of the sector. Its mandate is to support cooperatives and the wider social economy through a range of structural functions, including: 

• accreditation and supervision of cooperatives; 
• legal and technical support, including validation of statutes and bylaws; 
• data collection, research and official statistics on the cooperative sector; 
• training, capacity building and dedicated support programmes; 
• representation of Portuguese Cooperatives’ Sector at European and international level. 

Through this work, CASES contributes not only to the strength of the cooperative ecosystem in Portugal, but also to Portugal’s engagement in European and global policy dialogue. 

A decision that should be revisited 

The announced withdrawal of the State from CASES raises serious concerns for the future of cooperative development in Portugal. At a time when cooperatives are increasingly recognised as contributors to competitiveness, quality jobs and territorial cohesion, dismantling a long-standing institutional framework risk weakening accumulated expertise and institutional continuity. 

A political hearing on the future of CASES is scheduled to take place on 14 January. Cooperatives Europe believes that this decision should be revisited and that alternative solutions should be explored that preserve CASES and safeguard the interests of cooperatives in Portugal. 

How members can support 

Cooperatives Europe is engaging with its members to facilitate coordinated and constructive support. This includes encouraging visibility through social media in the coming days (in light of the upcoming hearing) and inviting members, should they wish, to express their views directly to the Portuguese authorities. 

Members are encouraged to send such letters within the coming two weeks. 

Cooperatives Europe will continue to follow developments closely and remains committed to dialogue in support of a strong and stable institutional framework for cooperatives in Portugal and across Europe.