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Hands off our Coops! - they compete fairly! |
10 Signatures |
Published by coopseurope on May 05, 2008
Category: Business/Commercial
Region: GLOBAL
Target: President European Commission -Jose Manuel Barroso and Competition Commissioner - Neelie Kroes
Description/History:
The current legal cases before the European Commission are attempts by private companies to challenge national co-operative laws and tax regimes. It is another example of our competitors attempting to reduce consumers’ choice, to steal our market share and to end our ethical challenge.
263000 cooperative enterprises are serving their 160 million members (1 in 3 of EU citizens) and actively contribute to the economic and social objectives of the Union. Cooperatives are enshrined in treaties and recognized in the statutes of the European Cooperative Society. They have the support of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. 25 of the 27 European member states have specific legislation for co-operatives.
The Commission decision may not just affect a few major co-operatives but it could present a risk to the whole co-operative system in all economic sectors across the EU. Small and large coop enterprises could be affected and the coop systems in many EU states could be subject to legal challenges.
263000 cooperative enterprises are serving their 160 million members (1 in 3 of EU citizens) and actively contribute to the economic and social objectives of the Union. Cooperatives are enshrined in treaties and recognized in the statutes of the European Cooperative Society. They have the support of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. 25 of the 27 European member states have specific legislation for co-operatives.
The Commission decision may not just affect a few major co-operatives but it could present a risk to the whole co-operative system in all economic sectors across the EU. Small and large coop enterprises could be affected and the coop systems in many EU states could be subject to legal challenges.
Petition:
Hands Off our Coops! - they compete fairly.
We the undersigned, believe that:
The current legal cases before the European Commission are attempts to challenge national co-operative laws and tax rules. They are attempts by our competitors to reduce consumer choice, to steal the coop market share and to end their ethical challenge.
Any Commission decision that appears to side with the private share holding companies may not just affect a few major co-operatives but it could present a risk to the whole co-operative system in all the economic sectors of the EU. Are we to be told that our 'cooperative values and principles' are worthless?
Today, 263000 cooperative enterprises are serving their 160 million members (1 in 3 EU citizens). They actively contribute to the economic and social objectives of the European Union.
Cooperatives do not want privileges, they want to compete equally in an open market that acknowledges their 'cooperative difference'.
We the undersigned, believe that:
The current legal cases before the European Commission are attempts to challenge national co-operative laws and tax rules. They are attempts by our competitors to reduce consumer choice, to steal the coop market share and to end their ethical challenge.
Any Commission decision that appears to side with the private share holding companies may not just affect a few major co-operatives but it could present a risk to the whole co-operative system in all the economic sectors of the EU. Are we to be told that our 'cooperative values and principles' are worthless?
Today, 263000 cooperative enterprises are serving their 160 million members (1 in 3 EU citizens). They actively contribute to the economic and social objectives of the European Union.
Cooperatives do not want privileges, they want to compete equally in an open market that acknowledges their 'cooperative difference'.
The Hands off our Coops! - they compete fairly! petition to President European Commission -Jose Manuel Barroso and Competition Commissioner - Neelie Kroes was written by coopseurope and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
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