The critical role of co-operatives in rural communities supporting local jobs was the focus of a recent meeting of the European Economic & Social Committee in Brussels. ICOS EU Affairs manager Damien O’Reilly was invited to address the committee chaired by former ICMSA President John Comer.

Mr. O’Reilly highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing co-ops in Ireland and across Europe. “Co-operatives are perfectly placed to deliver many of the demands of producing quality food sustainably across the world but there are many challenges which need to be urgently addressed. Generational renewal is very much at the top of that list. Ensuring that there are sufficient young farmers and young graduates willing to work in and run co-operatives into the future is a big concern. We worry about attracting young people into farming. That has the knock-on effect of finding the co-op board members of the future.

“Competition for graduate talent to work in rural co-ops is also as much a challenge as ensuring that there are enough young people willing to work on farm. Co-operatives provide excellent and training to promote the value of the co-operative, but we need to build on that. The EU Commission needs to support co-operatives in promoting the co-op ethos as key to protecting food security and meeting critical Green Deal targets,” Mr. O’Reilly told the members of the committee who come from member states across the EU.

“Inclusion & diversity and encouraging more women to get involved in the co-operative movement must be priorities for all co-op boards. But these are issues which we can overcome, and the opportunities far outweigh the concerns. ICOS published its gender equality charter last year and all our co-ops are on board with that.”

Mr. O’Reilly also highlighted the role which co-ops can play in developing renewable energy projects which are critical to helping meet biding climate mitigation targets; “Green energy is just one example where co-operatives are ideally structured to diversify, support local communities and make a positive contribution to the EU Green Deal ambition of net zero emissions by 2050. But this cannot be achieved without due recognition from the policy makers here in Brussels. Co-operatives need to stand up now and make our voice heard like never before. I am fearful that our vital role is not recognized at EU level.

“When you strip everything away and look at the basic role and objectives of a co-operative, it is the perfect model to meet economic, social and environmental sustainability goals. Co-ops are owned and controlled by their members and provide vital income in terms of sales, jobs and shareholding. We need to work harder to make that point,” said Mr. O’Reilly.

2025 has been designated as the UN Year of the Co-operatives. The International Year of Co-operatives as a way of promoting co-ops and raising awareness of their contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the over social and economic development.

It is estimated that globally there are 3 million co-operatives employing 10% of the global workforce with 1.2 billion members. “We should not waste this golden opportunity to shout from the rooftops about what we do and how farmer owned co-operatives are vital to the viability of rural communities, to supporting jobs, to producing quality food and to driving green energy projects” concluded Mr. O’Reilly.