An Apex organisation is an independent organisation that has a membership of an absolute majority of all primary co-operative societies.
Apex co-operative organisations play a key role in ensuring that the government complies with internationally accepted norms to establish legal and regulatory frameworks in which co-operatives can flourish, bringing together unions and/or federations so as to preserve the autonomy and independence of the individual co-operatives, whilst creating the advantages of economies of scale.
The rights and obligations of an Apex organisation include:
- Representation of the members at national and international level
- Promotion, education and training
- Consultancy; financial, insurance and economic services
- Development of inter-co-operative relations
- Research and Development
Koperattivi Malta is the apex organisation for co-operatives across the Maltese Islands.