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Prof. Petar Stefanov
Central Cooperative Union
Prof. Petar Stefanov holds PhD in Economics and dedicated more than 36 years to the cooperative movement in Bulgaria. He is President of Central Cooperative Union – Bulgaria since 2003 and member of Group III of Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria, member of the Board of Bulgarian Industrial Association and member of the Supervisory Board of Central Cooperative Bank – Bulgaria. In 2010 he was awarded State order “Civil Merits” – First Degree for his exceptional commitment to the development and establishment of the values and institution of the cooperative movement in Bulgaria.
Since 2006 he was Board Member of Cooperatives Europe, two mandates Vice President and in 2024 was elected as President of Cooperatives Europe.
From 2009 to 2024 he was member of the Global Board of Directors of the International Cooperative Alliance. Since 2024 he is ICA Vice President for region Europe. Prof. Stefanov is President of Consumer Cooperatives Worldwide (CCW) since 2015.
During these years in the cooperative movement, Prof. Stefanov has actively committed to strengthening, promoting and recognition of the cooperative business model at Global, European and National levels.
With the support of Prof. Stefanov, CCU-Bulgaria has been partnering in various important projects and initiatives of ICA, CCW, Cooperatives Europe and EURO COOP –e.g. ICA EXPOs 2008, 2010 & 2012, CCW International COOP Competition for children’s drawing “Smile, dream and draw with COOP”. The latest significant project is the preservation of the World Cooperative House, Avenue Milcamps 105 in Brussels as Headquarters of ICA, Cooperatives Europe, CECOP – CICOPA and EURO COOP.
About Central Cooperative Union
During 2025, declared by the UN as International Year of Cooperatives, the Bulgarian Cooperative Movement will celebrate and 135th Anniversary since the foundation of the first Bulgarian cooperative society in 1890. Since 1902 Bulgaria is member of the International Cooperative Alliance, and the first Cooperative Law in Bulgaria was adopted in 1907. Today the Central Cooperative Union - Bulgaria (CCU), unites, represents and defends the interests of 100 000 individual cooperative members, 589 consumer cooperatives, 28 Regional Cooperative Unions, and 3 861 employees. Consumer cooperatives operate in the following sectors - retail, industry, agriculture and forests, purchasing and tourism. In 2004 and 2006 the Central Cooperative Union was awarded the prize “National Structure Contributing to Bulgaria’s Economic Development” for its significant contribution to the national economy and development of the country.
Among the new business sphere are the enterprise "COOP Floral" for production of essential oils and floral waters, COOP Old Stone Mill for production of "COOP" flour with retained nutritional values, and the first in Bulgaria automated store "COOP 24/7" with self-checkout and without staff.