"Fostering Europe’s Prosperity and Industrial Transformation: Cooperatives as Drivers of Change" is a one-day conference organized by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission, in partnership with Cooperatives Europe and CECOP. It will take place in Brussels, Belgium on March 18, 2025, as part of the official celebrations of the International Year of Cooperatives.
The event aims to spotlight the contribution of cooperatives to economic resilience, industrial transformation, and social cohesion across the European Union. The program will feature plenary sessions and interactive workshops in English, French, and Spanish, gathering representatives from cooperatives, policymakers, economic stakeholders, and academics.
Key topics include how cooperatives advance the green and digital transitions, strengthen industrial ecosystems, boost youth entrepreneurship, and support sustainable and inclusive growth. The initiative highlights policy measures and best practices to further integrate the cooperative model into Europe’s single market, while discussing the need for supportive legislation and greater recognition of cooperatives’ economic and social value. The event underlines the cooperative movement’s role in building a fairer and more resilient European economy for the future.