A new agreement among various political parties, led by regional councilors Silvia Scurati, Claudia Carzeri, and Pietro Bussolati, aims to reinvigorate cooperation in Lombardy. The initiative includes the immediate allocation of 500,000 euros and a commitment to secure additional funds for the 2024-2026 period, with the intent of strengthening the cooperative sector both economically and through greater planning and involvement in local institutions.
Recognizing the Importance of Cooperation
The councilors emphasized the need to bring the Alliance of Lombard Cooperation back into focus, highlighting the unique characteristics of cooperative enterprises that operate in synergy with local communities. “We recognize the distinctiveness and uniqueness of enterprises formed as cooperatives,” the councilors stated, “capable of working closely with territorial communities in a concretely subsidiary perspective, oriented towards sustainability and local proximity.”
Immediate Investments and Future Plans
The agreement outlines an initial investment to increase the Fund for the Capitalization of Lombard Cooperative Enterprises, managed by Finlombarda. This measure will allow for the processing of some applications submitted to the 2024 Support Desk. Additionally, the councilors committed to seeking significant resources for the 2024-2026 period, aiming to facilitate access to credit and reduce interest rates applied to cooperatives.
The Crucial Role of the Cooperative Sector
“The cooperative world,” Carzeri, Scurati, and Bussolati declared, “plays an incredibly important role in combating unemployment and social distress.” Cooperatives not only promote technological innovations but also contribute to the adjustment of quality standards for goods and services offered. Supporting this sector is seen as a fundamental institutional duty, aimed at ensuring that cooperatives become active protagonists in their communities.
Italian Version
