Democratising the economy: a new frontier for democratic governance

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16333 | 26 January 2026

Signatories:

Mr George PAPANDREOU, Greece, SOC ; Ms Kolbrún Áslaugar BALDURSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Aysu BANKOĞLU, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Edite ESTRELA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Mr Mattias JONSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Dimitrios MANTZOS, Greece, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Azadeh ROJHAN, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Roberto SPERANZA, Italy, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Namık TAN, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Gala VELDHOEN, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Francesco VERDUCCI, Italy, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Democratic values must extend into the economy, where decisions about power, ownership and resources shape people’s daily lives. Economic democracy empowers citizens, builds social cohesion, and supports inclusive, sustainable societies.

Democratic economic models – including co-operatives, community-owned energy projects, social-purpose enterprises, and digital platform co-operatives – give citizens and workers a meaningful voice. These models promote resilience, equity, trust, and energy security, while limiting oligopolies and concentrations of power that weaken democracy. They are characterised by democratic principles, including one member–one vote, inclusion of multiple stakeholders, alignment with social and environmental goals, and reinvestment of surpluses for public benefit.

Democratic ownership can take many forms, such as worker-owned firms, community trusts, workplace co-determination, participatory budgeting, platform co-ops, commons in areas like housing, fisheries or schools, and local renewable energy co-operatives.

Many member States of the Council of Europe lack legal frameworks, coherent policies, and investment strategies to support these initiatives – thus missing opportunities to reduce inequality, strengthen civic participation, and advance the green transition. Possible reforms could include supportive legislation for co-operatives, social and community wealth funds, democratisation of finance, and fair land and housing policies.

The Parliamentary Assembly should affirm the importance of democratising the economy – through expanding the commons, the right to repair and reuse, and exploring a public jobs guarantee so that employment is recognised as a fundamental right.

The Assembly should encourage legislative, institutional, and policy measures, at both national and Council of Europe levels, and explore ways to integrate democratic economic models into procurement, socio-economic development, and climate and energy justice policies, to make economic democracy a strong pillar of democratic security.

The Assembly should also engage co-operatives, trade unions, civil society, academia, and local authorities to identify barriers and opportunities, and to collect and disseminate good practices in supporting democratic enterprises and community-owned companies such as those of renewable energy.