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Together, the panellists identified three measures to strengthen cooperative economic activity:
- Recognise and measure: Germany should adopt a clear definition of the SSE, systematically map its impacts, and invest in research and development. This would acknowledge the role of the SSE as a transformative sector, rather than just a ‘social project’ or ‘special start-up’.
- Strengthen the municipal toolbox: Public procurement policy, framework agreements, access to space, and long-term rental models should support the SSE and provide planning security by shifting away from project-based funding towards a focus on infrastructure.
- Organise cooperation: SSE organisations are evolving from isolated entities into collaborative ecosystems by establishing collective structures such as associations, umbrella cooperatives and social franchise approaches. For example, the Bürgerwerke (citizen energy) and Mietshäusersyndikat (community-owned housing) platforms show how shared ownership and financing can create resilience.
The panel’s final takeaway was that true citizenship must include economic empowerment alongside political rights. Ensuring a just transformation demands that democratically-driven economic activities be integrated into modern public services and efforts to build resilience on the ground through cooperation and a focus on effective results.
Read the rest at Research Institute for Sustainability
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