Co-operatives in a Dynamic Enterprise Europe: ICA Regional Assembly for Europe
A successful and informative Regional Assembly for Europe attracted 300 participants to Lisbon, Portugal on 10-11 October. Among the special guests at the event was Mr. Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner in charge of Enterprises and Information Society. In his keynote addresss he emphasised the significant role co-operatives play as enterprises in addition to their traditional social functions. He referred to the recent supportive measures of the European Commission, in particular to the adoption of the Statute for a European Co-operative Society (ECS) and the official communication under preparation on the promotion of co-operatives and invited ICA Europe and its member organisations to help the Commission's efforts in raising and increasing awareness of good practice and co-operative success. The seminar which followed statutory business of the Assembly, entitled "Co-operatives in a Dynamic Enterprise Europe", revisited some of the salient points made by the Commissioner from the point of view of the European Union and were discussed in detail from a co-operative standpoint. The draft paper of the communication "Co-operatives in Enterprise Europe" was introduced by the head of the Co-operative Unit in DG Enterprise, Mr. Francesco Ianniello. The impact of the European Union's enlargement on co-operatives was one of the other key topics discussed. In addition to purely European issues, the recently adopted ILO Recommendation 193 on co-operatives was also addressed with a presentation from Chief of the Co-operative Branch of the International Labour Office, Jürgen Schwettmann. He noted in particularrly the measures to be taken for the implementation of the recommendations. In line with the title of the Seminar, the benefits and potential of .coop in promoting co-operative enterprises was also presented by one of its users, the Groupement National de la Coopération (GNC) of France. The Regional Assembly elected a new chairperson for ICA Europe, Pauline Green, Chief Eecutive Officer of the Co-operative Union (UK), two vice-chairs: Anne Santamäki (Finland) and Jean-François Hoffelt (Belgium) as well as ten other members of the European Council. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Portuguese government, Mr. José Luis Arnaut, Deputy Prime Minister and several members of the government. The Regional Assembly was hosted by ICA's three member organisations in Portugal, Fenacoop, Inscoop and Confagri.
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