Brussels, 22/04/2026 – Executives and senior bankers from cooperative institutions across Europe and beyond met online this week for the 58th General Assembly of the European Association of Co operative Banks (EACB). On the agenda were internal governance matters along with high level policy exchanges on Europe’s and the global financial outlook, including a dialogue with Financial Stability Board (FSB) Secretary General John Schindler.
Discussions touched upon key policy priorities, as well as the evolving economic and geopolitical environment. Members emphasised the importance of sustained, structured dialogue with policymakers and of adopting coordinated responses to shared challenges.
With more than 20 cooperative banking groups represented, EACB President Priscille Szeradzki underlined the strength of the sector’s collective voice and long term perspective: “Our cooperation and dialogue through the EACB reflect the very strengths of the cooperative model. By staying anchored in democracy and proximity, cooperative banks are well placed to remain a stable and constructive force in the European and global financial system.”
A central focus of the meeting was the exchange with Mr. John Schindler on the FSB’s work programme and the broad outlook on financial stability, policy coordination and crisis preparedness. The discussion covered key vulnerabilities, G20 priorities, implementation challenges and the interaction between global standards and locally rooted banking models. The debate took a truly global dimension in consideration of the EACB membership base that spans across Europe to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and Korea.
Members also discussed policy debates currently shaping the EU agenda, including defence financing, the growing role of stablecoins and the European Commission’s consultation on the competitiveness of Europe’s banking sector, underlining the need for proportionate, risk-sensitive regulation that reflects different business models and reduces the cumulative burden of post-crisis requirements.
The General Assembly also reviewed the EACB’s recent engagement with European policymakers, including exchanges with MEPs on digital euro and the competitiveness of the financial sector as well as a luncheon with Commissioner for Agriculture and Food on the role of cooperative banks as enablers for the agriculture sector. In this context, Nina Schindler, CEO of EACB, highlighted: “The EACB and its members remain fully committed to constructive engagement with policymakers in Europe but also with international bodies, such as the FSB, ensuring that the European and global framework remain proportionate and recognise the distinctive role of cooperative banks for members, regions and society at large.”