Lineapelle Milan, 13 February 2026 - At its Extraordinary General Assembly held on 13 February 2026 in Milan during Lineapelle, COTANCE unanimously approved a landmark revision of its Statutes, officially opening the organisation to a new category of members and setting the course toward a broader, more inclusive representation of the leather value chain.
The statutory reform, the result of a year-long review throughout 2025, introduces a new category of “Supporting Members”, enabling organisations connected to the leather ecosystem — including education and training providers, research and innovation bodies, leather industry clusters, suppliers, and other stakeholders — to formally participate in COTANCE activities. These members will benefit from the Confederation’s activities and participate in targeted events while not holding voting rights.
The revised Statutes also modernise governance by strengthening the executive role of the Presidency. The President will designate Vice-Presidents, allowing greater flexibility in the leadership structure and ensuring representation aligned with the sector’s priorities. Also, the term of the COTANCE Presidency has been enlarged to four years.
COTANCE President, Manuel Rios, emphasised:
“The decisions taken in Milan by unanimity signals not just an administrative update, but a structural step forward: a more open, collaborative and future-oriented Confederation, ready to support a modern European leather ecosystem.”
Commenting on the reform, COTANCE Secretary General Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano underlined:
“COTANCE is, and remains, a European organisation representing the interest of European tanners. With this statutory evolution, COTANCE broadens its constituency to cover also the interests of individuals and entities in the leather ecosystem which previously lacked representation. By doing so, it positions itself to better address today’s challenges — from sustainability and traceability to skills, innovation and global competitiveness — by engaging the full spectrum of actors shaping the future of leather.”
COTANCE members also welcomed Edoardo De Paola as Deputy Secretary General, who will assume the full responsibilities of Secretary General as of April 2026, ensuring continuity and further strengthening the organisation’s capacity to support the sector in the years ahead.
During his introduction to the membership, Mr De Paola stated:
“I am an Italian national and a European citizen. While my proximity may make it more immediate for me to engage with the Italian membership, I am fully conscious that this mandate entrusts me with representing a broad and diverse European membership. I am committed to safeguarding the interest of COTANCE’s members and the plurality of voices that shape its common position”.
Organisations interested in joining COTANCE as Supporting Members are invited to express their interest at