Guillem Llorens: "We must make the cooperative model available to more people, especially young people."

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives. The date coincides with another anniversary, the 125th anniversary of organized cooperativism.

How do you assess this 125-year journey, and what is the current state of the cooperative movement in Catalonia?

— 125 years don't happen every day, and this is clear evidence that cooperativism has deep roots and a very solid history in our country. Over these years, we have demonstrated that it is possible to conduct economic activity differently, putting people at the center and committing to democracy and social commitment. Today we are a diverse movement, with cooperatives in very different sectors, and we continue to grow both in number and impact. Catalan cooperativism is alive, active, and eager to continue transforming society.

And looking to the future, what do you think are the major challenges facing cooperativism?

— We face significant challenges, but also ones full of opportunities. First, we must make the cooperative model accessible to more people, especially young people, and facilitate generational renewal within cooperatives. The more people who are part of the cooperative movement, the more evidence of social justice and wealth there will be. We also want to strengthen intercooperation, enabling cooperatives to collaborate with each other to grow more strongly and in a shared way. And all of this without losing sight of major global changes: digitalization, the climate crisis, and social inequalities, in the face of which cooperativism has much to offer.

The Summer University of Cooperativism has become a key event for the sector. What does an initiative like this contribute?

— It's a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on where we are, where we're going, and how we want to do it. The Summer University allows us to conduct collaborative research, share ideas, experiences, and concerns with people from other cooperatives and sectors, public administration, and universities. There are presentations, debates, and activities designed to inspire and strengthen the cooperative movement. It also takes place in a very close and participatory environment, encouraging us to build together. That's why more and more of us don't want to miss it every year!

Cooperatives build a better world

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives, with the motto: "Cooperatives build a better world." This declaration recognizes the fundamental role that cooperatives play around the world in promoting sustainable development, social equity, economic democracy, and community resilience.

In Catalonia, we celebrate this year with pride and responsibility. Organized cooperativism has been working locally for 125 years to transform society. And for much more than 125 years, cooperatives, rooted in our territory, have strengthened a resilient, courageous, and constantly evolving fabric. With more than 4,700 active cooperatives—19% of the total in the country—and a third created in the last decade, Catalan cooperativism demonstrates vitality and adaptability to the great challenges of our time.

Catalan cooperatives put people, planet, and purpose at the center. We defend an economy at the service of life, based on democratic participation, equality, sustainability, and collective commitment. We are committed to intercooperation, social innovation, and local roots. We are present in key sectors such as food, energy, housing, employment, education, social services, and culture.

Cooperatives offer concrete, inclusive, and efficient solutions to address major challenges, especially in a context of ecological crisis and growing inequalities.

Therefore, we call on all cooperatives to mobilize in 2025: we need to make the transformative impact of cooperativism visible, strengthen links between projects, participate in shared spaces, and make our voices heard. At the same time, we invite public institutions and civil society to recognize cooperativism as an essential model for building a more humane, equitable, and resilient economy.

We celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives by reaffirming our commitment to people and the planet, with the aim of making 2025 a turning point to continue moving collectively toward a more just, sustainable, and democratic future.