PARIS, February 7, 2026 — On February 3, 2026, France’s cooperative movement marked the close of the International Year of Cooperatives with an event hosted at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council [CESE]. As the third constitutional assembly of the French Republic, CESE represents civil society organisations and involves citizens in democratic life.
This gathering was the very last of more than 200 events organised worldwide to celebrate #IYC2025. Titled Valeurs et puissances coopératives ! [Cooperatives’ values and strengths], the event brought together nearly 300 participants from across the diverse French cooperative movement. Speakers highlighted the sector’s vital economic and social contribution to France.
France is home to 22,000 cooperative enterprises, generating €344bn in turnover and employing 1.1 million people — 5.2 percent of private-sector salaried employment — with a total of 32.5 million members.
Figures presented in the 2025 Panorama of Cooperative Enterprises report, launched at the event, show that French cooperatives account for 50 of agri-food turnover, 55 percent of milk collection, 70 percent of cereal collection, half of all wine production, 30 percent of retail trade, and more than 60 percent of bank deposits and loans. Notably, 80 percent of the headquarters of the top 100 cooperatives are located outside the Paris region, a decentralised structure that enables value to be redistributed locally.
“We are at the heart of the daily lives of the French people, of the economy and society, even if we are not sufficiently present within French politics,” said Jérôme Saddier, President of Coop FR, the ICA member representative organisation of the French cooperative movement, founded in 1968.
“The centrality of the cooperative movement has profoundly shaped major economic sectors … But cooperating for the future of humanity is a moral imperative.”
In a powerful address to delegates, he said that cooperative innovations are flourishing, enabling cooperatives to “explore new fields of activity or organise collective entrepreneurship” in challenging economic and social contexts. However, he warned, “we are living in times which … compel us to rebuild our economic models.”
Saddier added that, as awareness grows of the crisis facing humanity, cooperatives must “assume responsibility for a moral reconstruction that is essential for a humanity in search of meaning”.
“To cooperate is not to submit, but to act,” he said. “I hope we will collectively become aware of our cooperative responsibility – not to engage in an overly passive resistance to a dominant mindset that too often overlooks us, but to take part in an optimistic and ambitious economic, social, and moral reconstruction.”
Saddier’s full speech, in French and English, is available to download below.
Delegates also heard from Carole Delga, President of the Regional Council of Occitania in southern France, who highlighted the resilience and dynamism of cooperatives across the country’s regions.
Serge Papin, Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism and Purchasing Power, emphasised that “cooperative enterprises are true economic flagships that demonstrate that the cooperative model is in good health – but needs all of its qualities to be promoted and recognised.”
ICA Director General Jeroen Douglas offered a global perspective, noting that the United Nations recognises cooperatives as “essential actors in social and economic development” and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He added that the UN’s decision to proclaim an International Year of Cooperatives every 10 years represents “an immense global recognition of the lasting contributions of cooperatives to a fairer and more equitable world”.
The programme also included a live radio show presented by a group of 10-year-olds, who interviewed cooperatives about the cooperative difference, as well as a roundtable discussion featuring cooperative leaders from 10 organisations.
As a unifying symbol throughout the year, the French cooperative movement created a “cooperative flame” made from multiple fabrics, which travelled across the country during IYC2025. Extinguishing the flame was not an option: it will remain alight all the way through to the 2035 International Year of Cooperatives.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
