Brussels, 31 March 2025 – The European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) is pleased to announce the release of its Annual Report 2024, which offers a comprehensive overview of the past year’s key achievements and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
In a year marked by new leadership in both the European Parliament and the European Commission, alongside a shift in policy priorities steered by the Draghi, Letta, and Future of Agriculture reports, the EACB maintained a strong presence in the European legislative debate.
Priscille Szeradzki, EACB President, stated: “As Europe faces new challenges and opportunities, cooperative banks remain essential to fostering financial stability, driving innovation, and ensuring social inclusion. Our business model, based on democratic governance and community values, uniquely positions us to support, Europe’s competitiveness and its transition towards a sustainable and digital future. The road ahead will undoubtedly present challenges, but with cooperation at our core, we are well-equipped to overcome them and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. So, let’s continue to support this model, not just for what is has achieved, but for the promises it holds for generations to come".
In 2024, the EACB reinforced its role as a trusted interlocutor, providing high-quality input on a wide range of regulatory files, with over fifty position papers and joint letters. The association actively participated in key debates on topics such as the digital euro, Framework for Financial Data Access (FIDA), the AI Act, PSD3/PSR, Retail Investment Strategy (RIS), the CMDI review, sustainability reporting, the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) package, and financing the agriculture and food sectors' transition. These efforts were driven by expert contributions from member banks, showcasing the collective influence of the cooperative banking sector.
Nina Schindler, CEO of the EACB, added: “The EACB Secretariat actively championed the distinct advantages of cooperative banks supporting prosperity in European regions and communities. I am grateful to our Secretariat team and the over 200 experts whose dedication has been instrumental in advancing the cooperative perspective in financial services policy. Looking ahead to the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, we are excited to continue working closely with our close-knit network of members for another year shaping a strong and diverse EU financial system."
The full Annual Report 2024 is available for download on the EACB website.