The Influence of Domestic and European Legal Regulations on the Functioning Of Co-Operatives Providing Banking Services As Civil Society Organizations Performing Social Aims: Evidence from Poland

Abstract

This paper presents a discussion on co-operatives as organisations of a civil society, in their normative aspects. The purpose of this research is to show how law influences the functioning of two types of co-operatives providing banking services operating nowadays in Poland: co-operative banks and co-operative savings and credit unions. The deliberations focus on two problems: the scope in which domestic (Polish) law influences the way of functioning of co-operatives providing banking services in Poland and the way that EU law has shaped changes to the functioning of Polish co-operatives providing banking services. The considerations as presented in this paper refer mostly to two issues regulated by law; that is, the purpose for which co-operatives providing banking services operate, and freedom of association. The main conclusion of the research conducted is that at present, legal regulations are aimed to the greatest extent at ensuring stability and safety of the operations of co-operatives providing banking services and that this normative concept does not foster active citizenship. The social context of operations of co-operatives providing banking services is often overshadowed for the legislator by the financial aspects of their functioning.