EU gives full support to co-op movement’s community values

ICOS represent 130 co-ops in Ireland, primarily in dairy, livestock and rural co-operative enterprise sectors.

Co-ops in Ireland have over 100,000 individual members and 12,000 Irish employees, with combined global sales of €12bn. Conor Mulvihill works in the organisation’s Brussels office.

He says: “With the recession, people are certainly looking at alternative business structures. Co-ops have proven to be profitable and better equipped to cope. Rabobank in the Netherlands is a great example.