Activities of Claude TURMES related to 2012/2321(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the contribution of cooperatives to overcoming the crisis PDF (175 KB) DOC (94 KB)
Amendments (16)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, in the EU, there are about 160 000 cooperative enterprises owned by 123 million members and providing jobs for 5.4 million people – including around 50 000 cooperative enterprises in industry and services providing jobs for 1.4 million persons – and that cooperatives contribute around 5% on average to Member State GDP; notes that, over the last few years, several hundred industrial and service cooperative enterprises have been established as the result of the restructuring of businesses in crisis or without successors, thereby saving and re- developing local economic activities and jobs; notes that industrial and service cooperative groups have had a key impact on regional development in some of the most industrialised regions of the EU; notes that some industrial and service cooperatives specialised in labour integration provide jobs to over 30 000 disabled and disadvantaged persons; notes that over the past decades more than 1000 renewable energy cooperatives (REScoops) were created by citizens who take responsibility and invest in their sustainable energy production, distribution and supply; notes that cooperatives therefore play a very important role in the EU in economic, social, sustainable development and employment terms;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that cooperatives have proved themselves to be even more resilient in times of crisis than many conventional enterprises and notes that there is considerable evidence of this resilience, particularly in relation to cooperative banks and industrial and service cooperatives (worker cooperatives, social cooperatives and cooperatives formed by SMEs) especially in the field of renewable energy production;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses the view that this greater resilience is in large part due to the cooperative model of governance, which is based on joint ownership and democratic participation and control by their member- stakeholders, and that it is also due to their characteristic method of capital accumulation, in particular their distinctive indivisible reserves system; considers that this model helps to ensure that cooperatives take a long-term approach across generations and anchors them in the local economy, giving them a stake in local sustainable development and ensuring that they do not delocalise, even when they internationalise;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes, moreover, that the development of cooperatives in sectors such as renewable energy production and social services has proven to be able to respond to new needs and to stimulate job creation better than other models;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that this in-built capacity for resilience should be strengthened by paying proper attention to cooperatives in all EU policies designed to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as well as in the relevant flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 strategy; in particular, considers that a reference to the important role of cooperatives should be made in the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan; believes that the necessary steps should be taken to ensure a level playing field between cooperatives and other forms of enterprises, whilst preserving cooperatives' aims and working methods;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to bolster its services responsible for cooperatives by creating a Directorate focusedensuring an adequate level of resources, to monitor and address policy development on cooperatives and other social-economy organisations (such as mutuals); supports the creation of a unit within DG Enterprise, with a unit working solely on the restructuring of industrial and service enterprises in crisis or without a successor into cooperatives;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States, in keeping with ILO Recommendation 193/2002, to review their legislation applying to cooperatives, with a view to adopting a comprehensive policy to support the cooperative business model and creating a regulatory environment favourable to the recognition and development of cooperatives in allespecially in fields and sectors where this model has proven to have a social, economic and environmental added-value; stresses that this should include the introduction of appropriate financial instruments and the recognition of cooperatives' role in the national social dialogue;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the conversion of enterprises in crisis into economically sustainable cooperatives requires a precise and early diagnosis; calls on the authorities at all levels to cooperate with the cooperative system in making such early diagnoses and assessing the feasibility of transforming the enterprises into cooperatives; believes that Trade Unions should be also associated in this process;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Renewable energy
Amendment 92 #
13a. Argues that cooperatives contribute to the implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources Directive priorities for 2020 and the transition from fossil/nuclear energy towards renewable energy;
Amendment 93 #
13b. Notes that Renewable Energy Sources Cooperatives (REScoops) allow citizens to become cooperative members of local RES-projects, which in turn enhances their social acceptance towards new RES installations; moreover citizens' participation in energy production increases their awareness on the need of a sustainable and efficient energy consumption as well as their control on energy prices;
Amendment 94 #
13c. Points out that social acceptance of generating renewable energy is not only important to minimise delays in the authorisation process, it will also encourage investment in RES projects; Believes that cooperatives play an important role for the European Union in order to achieve the 2020 commitments;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that the specific characteristics of cooperative banks have to be taken into account in the financial markets regulation and the following implementing laws;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes also that Member States should take steps to make it easier for cooperatives to gain access to the whole range of business support services, since this will help them further to contribute to a sustainable growthdevelopment of their economies;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Believes that access of small cooperative credit associations to the markets should be facilitated throughout Europe;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Believes that in order to support the creation of new cooperatives, services for start-ups cooperatives should be developed; moreover, initiatives promoting the cooperative model among new potential entrepreneurs (i.e. in University curricula) should be encouraged both at a national and European level;