CECOP

CECOP is the European confederation of industrial and service co-operatives. Members are national federations of co-operatives, and organisations that promote co-operatives. These members represent 25 members in 16 European countries: 40,000 enterprises, employing 1.3 million workers, mainly in three types of cooperatives:

• 35,000 worker co-operatives - democratically managed and owned by the workers, who share risks and responsibilities.
• 12,000 social co-operatives (employing 270,000 workers) - which respond to the needs of communities by providing social, cultural, educational and environmental services. These are also known as ‘services of general interest’. Some of them contribute to the integration of disadvantaged and marginalised people, by providing work.
• 1,000 co-operatives of self-employed producers such as freelancers, truck drivers, taxi drivers, journalists, masons, graphic designers, consultants, doctors and lawyers. These cooperatives help overcome isolation and improve security, by sharing resources, benefits and things like marketing or accountancy services, workspace and equipment.