Decrease text Increase text

EU Organisations

COPA-COGECA

Introduction

The first European farmer’s representative organisation, COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations) was created in 1958. One year later, the agricultural cooperatives of the European Community created their European umbrella organisation, COGECA (General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives).

COPA represents both the general and specific interests of farmers in the EU. Since its inception, COPA has been recognised by the EU institutions as the organisation speaking on behalf of the European agricultural sector as a whole. COGECA is the main representative body for the entire agricultural and fisheries cooperative sector at EU level. Since 1962, the Secretariat has been operating jointly on behalf of COGECA and COPA.

Structure, key stakeholders and partners

COPA is made up of 60 organisations from EU-27 and 36 partner organisations from other European countries such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. It has 50 Working Parties, dealing either with specific, production-related topics (e.g. cereals, beef meat) or with general questions (e.g. environment, rural development). Most of these Working Parties are constituted jointly with COGECA, but both COPA and COGECA also have separate Working Parties of their own.

COGECA currently has 35 full members from the EU Member States, four affiliated members and 36 partner organisations, which include representatives of countries like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. COGECA is member of Cooperatives Europe, the European region of ICA (International Cooperative Alliance).

Priorities and activities

The working structures of COPA are determined by three basic objectives:

  • to examine any matters related to the development of the Common Agricultural Policy;
  • to maintain and develop relations with the EU institutions and with any other representative organisations or social partners established at European level;
  • to enable representatives of the European Union from the various agricultural production sectors and areas to discuss matters concerning their respective sector or area and to suggest solutions to the problems posed.

COGECA’s most important priorities are to:

  • represent the general and specific interests of European agricultural, forestry, fisheries and agri-food co-operatives and to contribute to the development of cooperatives in general;
  • provide a platform for member organisations and cooperatives to hold political discussions and exchange views on policy issues and the added value of agricultural produce and businesses;
  • facilitate and coordinate links between its members as well as provide services for cooperative networking;
  • promote discussions and exchanges of views with COPA in particular, as well as with other representative organisations at EU and international level;
  • undertake legal, economic, financial, social or other studies of interest to agricultural, forestry, fisheries and agri-food cooperatives.

The COPA-COGECA Secretariat provides continuous analysis, communication and expert knowledge to its national member organisations and to European cooperatives. To this end it prepares Working Party meetings, reports and position papers.

Further information