French co-operators have been assessing the innovation of co-operatives in a time of economic crisis.
In a seminar co-hosted by Coop France and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of France (CESE) group for co-operatives, 200 delegates looked at the challenges faced by the movement in the next decade.
The event sought to analyse what the future holds for the co-operative movement and how co-operatives operate in difficult economic climates while maintaining their role in securing sustainable development, energy transition and sustainable housing.
Following the introductory remarks of Jean-Paul Delevoye, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) and Denis Verdier, President of the CESE co-operative group, the seminar continued with the first round table focused on co-operative development.
French Minister for Social Economy, Benoît Hamon, was also a keynote speaker at the seminar’s first round table. The Minister reinstated his support for the co-operative model, saying it has a social dimension. He also emphasised on the need to maintain a permanent dialogue with co-operators, especially since the 1947 law on co-operatives is to be revised by the Parliament in September 2013.
Other speakers included Marie-Noelle Lienemann, Senator of Paris and President of the National Federation of Co-operative Societies d’Hlm; Jean Claude Detilleux, president of Coop FR and ICA Board member, Patrick Lenacker, president of CG Scop; and Pierrette Crozemarie, member of the Superior Council of the Social and Solidarity Economy, of CGT and CESE.
Mr Detilleux said it is important to implement levers for sustainable development.
At the second round table co-operators launched a debate on how co-operatives can bring innovation. Pierre Ducray, Director of the French Forestry Co-operative Union spoke of the energy transition.
Benoît Tracol, General Director of Rhône Saône Habitat referred to the need for sustainable housing, while Michel Montet, Director of Cereals-Agro furniture and Sustainable Development of Co-operative Group of Maïsadour shared his thoughts on sustainable development and green economy. Christophe Lallau, director of Codir of Krys group tried to address the issue of employment relocation.
The seminar was part of the French co-operative movement’s efforts to promote co-operative enterprises as a third way of doing business. According to Coop FR, in France more than 21,000 co-operative enterprises with 24 million members employ one million people. This represents 3.52 per cent of the active population.
