ICA welcomes European Parliament recognition of cooperatives in Global Gateway strategy
The ICA said it was particularly encouraged by the explicit recognition of cooperatives in the report
BRUSSELS, April 20, 2026 — The International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] has welcomed a recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament on March 26, 2026 entitled “Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation”.
As the first European Parliament report dedicated to the Global Gateway initiative, the resolution sets an important political direction on key issues such as transparency, governance and funding. It is expected to play a crucial role in shaping upcoming negotiations, particularly for the next Multiannual Financial Framework [2028–2034], the Global Europe instrument, and any future legislative proposals.
The ICA said it was particularly encouraged by the explicit recognition of cooperatives in the report. The Parliament calls for concrete measures to ‘facilitate the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs], including cooperatives and social economy enterprises, in the Global Gateway, including by establishing streamlined processes and dedicated financial windows, targeted outreach, simplified access to tenders, and support mechanisms to enhance their international competitiveness’ [paragraph 48].
The resolution further urges the provision of ‘evidence about the benefits of Global Gateway projects for local enterprises, especially SMEs, sustainable and inclusive businesses such as cooperatives and social enterprises, local communities, and the workforce in partner countries’ [paragraph 72].
The ICA also welcomed the report’s call to create an enabling environment that promotes local ownership, supports partner countries in building resilient systems for health, education and social protection, and places local communities at the centre of Global Gateway initiatives.
“The ICA strongly supports the emphasis on local ownership and community-centred development. Cooperatives are uniquely positioned to deliver on these objectives by creating quality local jobs, strengthening resilient value chains, and ensuring a more equitable distribution of economic benefits,” said Jeroen Douglas, Director-General of the ICA.
The organisation further acknowledged the report’s recognition of civil society concerns and its emphasis on monitoring and evaluating the local impact of investments. It noted that meaningful engagement with civil society is essential to ensure that Global Gateway delivers tangible and lasting value.
The development builds on the ICA’s continued engagement with EU institutions on cooperative development and international partnerships. Recent milestones include participation in the Policy Forum on Development, exchanges with the European Commission, and ongoing efforts to share #Coops4Dev🌍 lessons with EU Delegations, while reinforcing the ICA’s role in EU policy discussions on development cooperation.
The ICA has encouraged the European Commission to build on this momentum in the continued development of the Global Gateway initiative, ensuring that cooperatives and other sustainable business models become strong partners and key actors in programme implementation, delivering tangible benefits and strengthening local ownership.
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