Other agreements within the EU itself have also been intended to promote co-operation, especially in the management of scarce resources. Too often, the reality has fallen short of the aim: for example, despite a common fisheries policy that has wrecked coastal communities in Britain, fish stocks are declining rapidly due to over-fishing and – probably – climate change.
Co-operation does not necessarily prevent the “tragedy of the commons”, then. Indeed, if “co-operation” is interpreted as “it’s not my responsibility” or “let’s not upset anyone (even if they are not abiding by the agreed rules)”, it can actually cause it.
Co-operation implies that we take responsibility not only for our own actions but for the actions of others, too.
But despite its co-operative ambitions, within the EU it has been competition, not co-operation, that has generally ruled.
Read the full article at Co-operative News
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