The cooperative members exercise their decisional powers applicable to the cooperative matters in the cooperative’s general meeting (COA, Chapter 5). Each member may use their rights either in person or through a representative. One representative can exercise the rights of not more than three members. The use of representatives can be forbidden in the rules. Each member has one vote in all matters to be considered by the general meeting if there is no special stipulation in the rules.
The statutory general meeting must be held within six months of the end of the financial year unless there is a stipulation of a shorter delay.
For large cooperatives, the rules can stipulate that its members’ discretionary power is exercised in all or some matters, instead of the general meeting, by the member council elected by its members.