DECEMBER 2018

EUROPE
MEPs explore
the role of social
co-ops in agriculture
p The meeting at the European Parliament
Social co-operatives play a key role in
the agricultural sector in Italy. Their
contribution was the topic of a meeting
hosted by MEPs Elena Gentile, Paolo De
Castro and Roberto Gualtieri (S&D, Italy)
at the European Parliament.
Social agriculture enterprises are
co-ops or other businesses that operate
in the agricultural sector to foster social
inclusion. Around 46% of all enterprises
involved in social agriculture in Italy are
co-operatives. They employ people from
very vulnerable backgrounds such as
ex-offenders, people with disabilities,
refugees, and people struggling with
addiction and mental health issues.
Others provide jobs for people in territories
previously controlled by the mafia.
Ilaria Signoriello from the Euro+Med
Agri Network said decision-makers
should be aware of the economic and
entrepreneurial dimension of social
co-ops in agriculture, which is also seen
in Portugal, Czech Republic and Hungary.
Paolo De Castro expressed concerns over
the cuts to Common Agriculture Policy
(CAP) funding. The budget allocated to
the CAP represents a share of 28.5% of the
overall EU budget for the period 2021-2027,
down 5% from the previous budget.
Roberto Gualtieri called for a European
legal framework for social agriculture.
And CECOP president Giuseppe Guerini,
former president of Federsolidarietà,
looked at the importance of economic
biodiversity, stating that in order to
thrive, societies had to promote a variety
of economic models. He concluded by
calling for an alliance of social co-ops
active in agriculture and public decision
makers to promote this model.
Former refugee hostel re-opens as sustainable hostel
WELCOMMON, the hostel that provided
accommodation to refugees and asylum
seekers in Athens, is now open to
tourists. In February, the UN Refugee
Agency told organising co-op Wind of
Renewal that it will now focus on small
structures such as apartments, rather
than larger facilities such as the hostel.
Funding is still an issue and they are
looking for donations and investors.
New creative co-op for New Zealand’s Wairoa District?
A creative co-op looks set to be formed in
New Zealand’s Wairoa District following
a visit from Craig Presland, CEO of Coop
Business NZ – the country’s representative
body for co-ops – to encourage the
development of local co-op businesses
in the area. He said he wanted to help the
region build upon this economic success
using the co-operative model.
The Co-operators to provide medical cannabis coverage
Canadian insurer the Co-operators is
introducing optional medical cannabis
coverage for its members. Medical cannabis
does not have a Health Canada Drug
Identification Number and is not eligible
for coverage under prescription drug
plans. The Co-operators will consider it
an eligible expense under the ‘all other
extended health care’ category.
Mauritius Business minister pledges support for co-ops
Co-operatives are on the government’s
agenda in Mauritius, according to the
Minister of Business, Enterprise and
Cooperatives, Soomilduth Bholah. Speaking
at the National Awards for Co-ops 2018 on
14 November, the minister highlighted
some of the government’s policies around
co-operatives.
José Antonio Chávez Villanueva Award winners
Young co-operators making contributions
to the movement were presented with
awards at the 5th Co-operative Summit
of the Americas. The awards are a tribute
to the late youth member of the board of
the International Co-operative Alliance,
José Antonio Chávez Villanueva, who was
killed in a car accident in December 2014.
DECEMBER 2018 | 21