Obtaining the "OETC Governance Compliant" label is a significant commitment that attests to your excellence. We invite you to read all the information on this page carefully. In line with our mission, we have made the entire process, from requirements to costs, fully transparent and accessible to all.
The Cooperative Leaders Label.
More Value for Members, Less Risk for Governance.
Trust is the most important strategic asset for preventing problems and creating value. For a cooperative, transparent governance is the most effective way to consolidate this trust, transforming the member base from a potential risk to an engine of growth.
OETC is the only European Observatory to combine data analysis optimized by Artificial Intelligence with a deep understanding of cooperative values. Our uniqueness, reach, and analytical capacity position us as the most relevant interlocutor for national and European institutions when it comes to defining the health and future of the cooperative model.
Achieving "OETC Governance Compliant" certification means entering the orbit of the institution that will set the next standards of excellence, demonstrating leadership that goes beyond mere compliance.
The Strategic Value of OETC Certification
Joining our certification program is a direct investment in your cooperative's most valuable asset: people and reputation.
Concrete Value for Every Member
Obtaining the "OETC Governance Compliant" label is a total commitment to the member base. For this reason, certification includes the first year's OETC membership for all your cooperative's members.The first 500 memberships are included in the certification fee; for subsequent memberships, a greatly reduced collective flat rate is provided. This is the strongest signal governance can give, a direct investment in the awareness and participation of every member.
Conflict Risk Reduction
Internal conflicts are not just discussions. All too often they result in major economic damage, decision-making deadlocks, governance crises and, in the worst cases, scandals with devastating media and reputational repercussions for the entire Board of Directors. Our training program and information materials provided to the cooperative are designed to defuse these dynamics, preventing conflicts before they erupt.
Positioning as an Industry Leader
Our label is a public declaration of leadership, transparency and innovation. It communicates to banks, business partners, and institutions, as well as to current and potential members, that your cooperative not only complies with the rules, but sets a new standard of excellence.
Our Approach: Technology and Method
We combine the efficiency of technology with the guarantee of human involvement.
An Observatory Optimized by AI
OETC makes extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (in full compliance with the European AI Act) to optimize procedures, overcome language barriers, and guarantee unprecedented data analysis. This approach is AI-driven, not AI-automated: every preliminary analysis is efficient and powerful, but every final decision is validated by one of our human experts, ensuring a perfect balance between technology and competence. Our AI Voice Agents, active 24/7, can converse in any language with your representatives, offering constant support just as a human collaborator would.
A Participative and Guaranteed Audit
Trust is built together. Our audit process is based on two fundamental pillarsThe Transparency Guarantors The cooperative undertaking the audit is responsible for appointing 3 internal guarantors. They must be 3 members (if possible with different seniorities) who are not and have never been members of the Board of Directors, and who are at arm's length from the cooperative. They are the internal supervisors of the entire process.
The Members' Meeting Vote The launch of the certification process must be presented to and approved by a majority of the members' meeting. This is not a management initiative, but a strategic choice shared by the entire cooperative.
The Certification Process: Phases and Prerequisites
A clear, digital and secure path.
An Essential Prerequisite
Before starting the application process, it is essential that the cooperative familiarizes itself with our Regulations for the Award and Use of the 'OETC - Governance Compliant' Label. This document contains all the requirements, obligations, and evaluation criteria necessary to obtain the label, and must be understood and accepted before proceeding.
Initial Application The cooperative expresses its interest by filling in an online form.
Deliberation and Internal Preparation The Board of Directors presents the project to the Members' Meeting for formal approval and proceeds to appoint the 3 Transparency Guarantors.
Documentary and Technical Audit Once the project has been approved, the audit phase begins. The documents required are:
Bylaws in force
Two latest approved balance sheets
Main internal regulations
Minutes of the last three members' meetings
List of members of the Board of Directors
Complete list of members (required to activate their free memberships)
Absolute Security Guarantee OETC adopts the highest standards of end-to-end encryption and European security protocols (GDPR and NIS2 compliant). All documents, especially sensitive data such as member lists, are processed in a protected digital environment, accessible only to authorized personnel and our certified AI systems. Your confidentiality is our top priority.
Granting of the Triennial Label If successful, the cooperative is awarded the "OETC Governance Compliant" label for the following three years.
The entire audit procedure, from receipt of all required documents, can take up to 3 months.
A Single Investment for Collective Value
Our cost structure is transparent and proportional, designed as a strategic investment for cooperatives of all sizes. Certification fees are valid for three years.
| Annual Turnover Bracket* (€) | Three-year fee (€) | Equivalent annual cost (€) |
|---|---|---|
| < 500.000 | 4.000 | ~1.333 |
| 500.001 - 2.500.000 | 7.500 | 2.500 |
| 2.500.001 - 10.000.000 | 12.000 | 4.000 |
| 10.000.001 - 50.000.000 | 21.000 | 7.000 |
| > 50.000.000 | Custom | Custom |
*The value refers to the average turnover of the last two approved balance sheets.
In addition to these fees, the cost of membership for all members for the first year is calculated as follows:
First 500 members Included in certification fee.
Members over 500 Reduced collective fee of €25 for each additional member.
Note on Renewal At the end of the first year, renewal of OETC membership is an individual choice for each member. Consequently, when certification is renewed after three years, the cooperative will only bear the three-year label costs, with no additional costs for member admissions.
Join the European Governance Elite
Certified cooperatives represent excellence in Europe. With their consent, they can be entered in a public register of best practices, a prestigious showcase offering international visibility and recognition.
