Definition: Co-operative (society)

Category: Business registers

A social economy enterprise characterized by:

- Voluntary and open membership
- Equal voting rights – resolutions carried by majority
- Members contribute to the capital which is variable
- Autonomy and independence
- Particularly important is the sector of agriculture, manufacturing, banking, retailing and services http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-32-10-216-EN-C-EN.pdf