The Cooperative and Youth Voice in Action at Bordeaux GSEF 2025

October 29–30 – Cooperatives and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) actors building lasting peace and enhancing social innovation

The session ‘Stability in uncertain times: how SSE contributes to sustaining peace?’ organised by the International SSE Coalition highlighted how these actors are consolidating peace directly within communities and supporting sustainable development. During this roundtable, Giuseppe Guerini, President of Cooperatives Europe, illustrated how cooperatives are built to share resources and meet needs, which opens the door to a different view of competitiveness. He explained that cooperative enterprises choose collaboration over confrontation and that often this strategy is more efficient and more humane.

“Cooperatives show that competitiveness can mean acting together, not against each other – turning the market into a space for collaboration and peace.”
— Giuseppe Guerini, President, Cooperatives Europe

The next day at the session ‘Social dialogue in the SSE: a model of social innovation in Europe’ as part of his contribution he underpinned the necessity for cooperatives and social economy enterprises to be given a seat at the table when discussing social innovation.

October 30 – Joint conference with CONCORD Europeon EU investments & Global Gateway

In partnerhsip with CONCORD Europe, Cooperatives Europe organised a joint conference under #coops4dev🌍 titled ‘Profit with purpose: unlocking value through people-centred businesses in the EU’s international partnerships’, building on the joint “Mind Our Business Report” (2020).

The session discussed the level and nature of current and potential EU investments in cooperatives and the broader social economy under its Global Gateway Strategy.  

Speakers discussed the adverse impact of the current design of the EU projects under the Strategy, which prioritise big actors over smallholders and do not recognise the diversity of actors in the private sector, such as cooperatives. 

Building on its experience with the social economy in Europe and the MENA region, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is now testing new financing models to provide local currencies and de-risk investments. 

Our representatives reminded the EU of the importance of seeing cooperatives as both beneficiaries and valuable partners in the advancement of the EU Development Agenda, thanks to their direct impact on local communities.

This event also marked a valuable opportunity for cross-continental collaboration with Cooperativas de Las Americas under #coops4dev🌍.

Speakers: 

• Yohann Chaigneau (European Investment Bank,EIB Global); 
• Carlos González Blanco,Cooperativas de las Américas;
• Tiina Huvio, Food and Forest Development (member of the CEDP representing Pellervö);

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.