The Working Group Legal Framework was created at the initiative of the Austrian CIBP member, ÖGV, in 2005.

Since its first meeting, this Working Group Legal Framework deals with chances and challenges which can arise within national and European legislation.

In this context, the Working Group studies legal topics of particular importance for cooperative banks.

The Working Group has discussed the Statute for a European Cooperative Society, an EU Directive adopted in 2003. This legal instrument creates a significant scope of interpretation for the national laws of EU Member States in concrete issues relating to the establishment of a European Cooperative Society (SCE). This has encouraged the Working Group to work intensively on a comparative study on the differences in the implementation of the Directive in the CIBP member states. As a result of this cooperation, a 40-page booklet (known as the "SCE Booklet") was published in April 2008.

Short note about the SCE Booklet:

The booklet, consisting of 22 chapters —including registration, acquisition of membership, conditions of membership, structure of organs, power of representation and liability of the SCE, annual accounts and consolidated accounts, winding-up—, covers all topics relevant when founding and planning to set up a SCE. Therefore, this booklet is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in founding a SCE.

Prospects for 2009:

The Working Group already has concrete ideas for a new common project. At present, the project proposal is still to be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval. As soon as the Executive Committee adopts this new study, all relevant information will be published on this website.

Please click here to see all events planned for this working group.