The new principles, while building on and refining the previously accepted ones, firmly positioned cooperatives as jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprises based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality and solidarity.

[3] On the first Saturday of July each year, Cooperatives Europe celebrates International Co-operative Day.

[4] Cooperatives Europe was established on 7 March 2006 as a nonprofit organization under Belgian law (ASBL),.

[5] The first General Assembly took place in Manchester, on 11 November 2006, where Pauline Green and Etienne Pflimlin were elected co-presidents.

The General Assembly elects the board of directors, which is in charge of the development and implementation of the strategic multi-annual programme, and one president, who also acts as vice-president of the International Cooperative Alliance for the European Region.