DEFINITION
The co-operative is a form of business organisation based on a democratic structure and functioning.
The activity of co-operatives follows cooperative principles which have been accepted and regulated at the regional, national and international level. These principles are:
1. Open and voluntary membership, which guarantees the freedom of its members to enter and leave the co-operative:
Principle: “The door is always open”
2. Democratic management, which ensures the direct participation of its members in setting the objectives of the cooperative in equal conditions, regardless of the capital provided:
Principle: “One person, one vote”
3. Economic participation of its members, establishing that all profits are distributed based on the activity carried out by each co-operative member, instead of on the capital provided. This avoids the personal prosperity of some and not others.
Principle: “Profit participation based on the members’ work, not their capital”
4. Education, training and information, as obligations that the co-operative has with its members and waged workers, as well as fostering the co-operative movement:
Principle of: “Economic democracy school”
5. Taking an interest in the community, which entails a commitment to sustainable development and social and territorial cohesion in the local sphere, conveying democratic culture and behaviour.
Principle: “Sustainable development and a democratic commitment to the local sphere”
Co-operatives follow these principles regardless of the varied legal statuses and types of organisations that exist within the co-operative movement. Different criteria can be used for their classification.
Based on the activity they carry out, we can find co-operatives that focus on:
REGULATION
ANDALUCÍA
- Law 14/2011 of 23 December on Cooperative Companies of Andalucía
ARAGÓN
ASTURIAS
- Law of the Principality of Asturias 4/2010 of 29 June on Co-operatives
BALEARIC ISLES
- Law 1/2003 of 20 March on Co-operatives of the Balearic Isles
CANTABRIA
- Law of Cantabria 6/2013 of 6 November on Co-operatives of Cantabria
CASTILLA LA MANCHA
CASTILLA LEÓN
- Law 4/2002 of 11 April on Co-operatives of the Region of Castilla y León
CATALONIA
- Law 18/2002 of 5 July on Co-operatives of Catalonia
VALENCIA
- Law 8/2003 of 24 March on Co-operatives of the Region of Valencia
EXTREMADURA
- Law 2/1998 of 26 March on Co-operative Companies of Extremadura
GALICIA
- Law 14/2011 of 16 December, which amends Law 5/1998 of 18 December on Co-operatives of Galicia
- Law 14/2011 of 16 December, which amends Law 5/1998 of 18 December on Co-operatives of Galicia
- Law 5/1998 of 18 December on Co-operatives of Galicia
LA RIOJA
- Law 4/2001 of 19 July on Co-operatives of La Rioja
MADRID
- Law 4/1999 of 30 March on Co-operatives of the Region of Madrid
NAVARRA
- Regional Law 14/2006 of 11 December on Co-operatives of Navarra
MURCIA
- Law 8/2006 of 16 November on Co-operative Companies in the Region of Murcia
BASQUE COUNTRY
- Law 4/1993 of 24 June on Co-operatives of the Basque Country
- Decree 58/2005 of 29 March which passes Regulation of the Law of Co-operatives of the Basque Country