Ateneu Cooperatiu of Baix Llobregat Advances Social Economy with New 2026 Strategies
The Ateneu Cooperatiu marks its tenth year with new strategies to drive social economy in Baix Llobregat, while economist Paul Collier highlights the need for territorial solidarity in Spain’s development.
- • Ateneu Cooperatiu celebrated its 10th anniversary and launched new strategic lines for 2026.
- • Fernando Vicente stressed moving from strategy to action and praised shared governance and network collaboration.
- • A new coordination Motor Group was introduced to implement the strategic plans.
- • Economist Paul Collier emphasized the importance of social cooperation and solidarity between territories for sustainable development.
Key details
On January 26, the Consell Comarcal del Baix Llobregat convened the Consejo Estratégico del Ateneu Cooperatiu, marking the tenth anniversary of this social cooperative initiative. Fernando Vicente, the regional counselor for Internal Regime and Economic Development, underscored the imperative to move beyond planning and into substantial action. He emphasized the importance of shared governance, co-responsibility, and network collaboration as foundational to the project’s success, which aims to bolster social economy efforts and sustainable local development in Baix Llobregat.
During the session, new strategic lines for 2026 were presented and validated, alongside the introduction of a Motor Group tasked with their implementation. Inspirational social and public innovation cases were shared by organizations like Watteco, Àgora, and VTOOLS, with active participation from local municipalities such as Sant Feliu de Llobregat. The event concluded with a dynamic networking session titled “Mercado de retos y alianzas” to foster synergies among stakeholders.
The Ateneu Cooperatiu, supported by the Catalonia Department of Business and Labor, the Consell Comarcal, and other local entities, focuses on promoting the social and solidarity economy, generating quality employment, and strengthening the cooperative fabric in the region.
Complementing these local initiatives, economist Paul Collier highlighted the crucial role of social cooperation and territorial solidarity in sustaining a viable nation. He pointed out that development thrives on cooperation rather than capital alone and cited Spain’s relatively better infrastructure management compared to the UK. Collier stressed the moral obligation of wealthier territories such as Catalonia to support less advantaged areas, reflecting broader themes of economic solidarity vital for regional cohesion.
Together, these perspectives underline the interconnected nature of local strategic efforts and broader social-economic solidarity as Spain confronts ongoing developmental challenges in 2026.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
