Barcelona Hosts a Central Hub for European Cooperatives
Barcelona is set to anchor a major cooperative hub, a milestone that underscores the resilience and growth of Europe’s cooperative sector. The plan involves renovating 4,500 square meters within the Can Batlló complex, with construction advancing toward completion. Starting on July 1, the site will open spaces designed to nurture new projects while equipping existing initiatives with meeting rooms, video conferencing capabilities, and coworking facilities that foster collaboration and innovation.
The Catalan cooperative ecosystem is rebuilding in the wake of the pandemic, strengthening its foundational structures. In Catalonia, more than 4,500 companies contribute to the regional economy, as reported by the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Ministry of Labour in its latest April figures. The Coopolis promotional center at Can Batlló is anticipated to energize a sector that employs a substantial workforce across the region. The initiative traces its origins to the Barri Cooperatiu project, which began in the neighborhood and garnered support from local bookshops. Today, the project resides in La Comunal, a shared space that hosts multiple cooperatives and collaborators, including a dining operation and various professional and service-oriented ventures.
Progress has faced delays along the way. The original target year was 2021, but disruptions linked to the pandemic and archaeological discoveries uncovered during construction have extended the timeline. Current estimates place Coopolis’ opening within 2023, with a window spanning from January through November. The shift in schedule reflects both restoration needs and the evolving priorities of the local economy as it pivots toward social economy-oriented development.
The New Social Economy Law
The year 2023 is shaping up as a pivotal moment for Catalan cooperatives, with Coopolis preparations aligning with Parliament’s anticipated enactment of a new social economy framework. The regulation aims to establish a distinct certification mark for initiatives operating under social economy principles, encompassing cooperatives, foundations, and other enterprises. The Co-Chair of the Labor Federation has noted that the forthcoming law will set criteria to certify entities bearing the seal, and the seal itself will help differentiate advertising and align with future public economic promotion policies. This shift signals a move toward clearer standards and enhanced visibility for social economy actors.
Proposed requirements, to be defined by Parliament, include the degree of worker participation in governance, the wage ratio between the lowest and highest earners, and other criteria designed to ensure alignment with social economy standards. The seal will serve as a mark of authenticity and guide public support policies toward entities that meet established criteria. This framework is intended to harmonize the region’s cooperative landscape with broader social economy objectives while promoting accountability and social impact.
Within Catalonia’s extensive network of cooperatives, comprising thousands of entities, professional cooperatives stand out in sectors such as legal services, architecture, occupational risk prevention, and personal care. Well-known consumer cooperatives like SomEnergia and Abacus also play major roles in the economy. Worker cooperatives tend to be smaller, with a substantial share employing fewer than ten people. Data from the Federation of Workers Cooperatives reveal a more varied distribution of leadership roles, with women and men participating in management at comparable rates, a pattern that differs from many traditional firms where leadership is less evenly shared.