Ms. Daniela Burlo’, a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) 2011-2013 at the University of Malta was awarded in April 2014 the Co-operative Societies prize sponsored by the Central Co-operative Fund for her dissertation entitled “Co-operative or Limited Liability Company? A comparative analysis in a Maltese setting”.
Ms. Burlo’ acknowledged the help offered to her by the Malta Co-operative Federation throughout the preparation of her dissertation and for the time, insight and continuous support afforded to her by accountant and co-operative expert Mr. Rolan Micallef Attard.
On the 28th April 2014, Ms. Daniela Burlo’ presented her dissertation findings on the Radio program Fuq il-Finanzi on Campus FM.
Ms. Burlo’ recommends from her findings that the consultation process on the co‑operative legislation currently underway is to address in the main:
- Co-operative start-up requirements,
- The reduction of the minimum number of society members,
- Aspects of the asset lock,
- The capital share upon membership withdrawal,
- Limiting the functions of the Co-operatives Board solely to that of a Regulator,
- Allowing on an optional basis the possibility for non-members to form an integral part of the Committee of Management of a co-operative society,
- The development of a specific Corporate Governance code of conduct for co-operatives,
- Introducing social audits for co-operative societies,
- Achieving greater exposure of the co-operative model through government support, promotion and education.