Founded in 1978, the key factors leading to ACME's establishment were the growing influence of the policies and legislation of the European Union and the need for European cooperative and mutual insurers to carefully monitor developments in order to ensure that their characteristics be taken into account in the achievement of the goals of the EU.

Since 1981, ACME has submitted position papers to the European Commission for its draft legislation. ACME has also strengthened her ties with the European Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC). In 1998, ACME was represented on the Consultative Commmittee for Cooperatives, Mutual Societies, Associations, and Foundations (CMAF) which in November 2000 became the European Standing Conference of Co-operatives, Mutuals Societies, Associations, and Foundations (CEP-CMAF). ACME is also a member of the Coordinating Committee of European Cooperation Associations (CCACE), the intersectorial representation of cooperatives at EU level.

Over the years, ACME has been able to influence several European directives. It has also organised a number of conferences, workshops, and seminars on strategic issues related to the European single market - both internally for members and externally addressed to European decision-makers - in order to create awareness and understanding for the cooperative and mutual sector.