e

cooperativeS
urope

Sofia
22-23 june 2009

« The co-operative 
response 
to the economic 
downturn »
Cooperating together 
for social interest, 
trust and innovation

european conference
and general assembly

Programme
The current economic crisis forces governments to consider new economic and social governance while the Commission and
social partners agree on the urgent need for a coordinated action at EU level to complement and support actions in Member
States.

The aim of the conference in Sofia is to assert the strengths of co-operative enterprises that, even in a period of crisis, provide
a democratic regulation and an innovative dimension. Indeed, by leading people to act by and for themselves, the co-
operative movement implements a sustainable and fair development. Its merits were officially recognized by the President
of the European Commission in the letter he sent to the co-Presidents of Cooperatives Europe on January 16th, 2009.

It is not presumptuous to say that the co-operative approach - through its origins, but also the practice of democracy,
participation, governance and social responsibility unique to the co-operative movement – has proven itself. This people
centered business model offers an important element in the response to overcome the current crisis.

This event will give participants from the European institutions, co-operative, employees and employers organisations the
opportunity to examine the major issues as they arise in the economic and social field. It will enable them to exchange views
and compare their experiences but also to talk about strategic alliances for a growth model more fair and balanced.

monday, 22 june 2009

09.00 – 09.30 Registration

09.30 – 10.00 Opening session

Petar Stefanov, President of Central Co-operative Union (bu)
Mladen Tcherveniakov, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee
to the 40th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
Iliana Iotova, Member of the European Parliament
Pauline Green, co-President of Cooperatives Europe

10.00 – 11.15 Uniting against economic crisis: Priorities for a reinforced co-operation
between trade unions, co-operative and stakeholder enterprises
Marie-France Boutroue, French Confederation of Labour (cgt)
Rosario Altieri, AGCI Nazionale (Association of Italian Co-operatives)
Rainer Schlüter, Cooperatives Europe
Jean Gautier, Former Member of the French Social and Economic Committee

Ph. D. Laiko Dulevski, President of the Bulgarian Economic & Social Council
Jan Olsson, European Economic and Social Committee
Dr. Konstantin Trenchev, President of the Bulgarian Confederation of Labour (podkrepa)

Moderator: Felice Scalvini, Cooperatives Europe/Cecop

11.15 – 11.30 Break

11.30 – 13.00 Maintaining employment and preventing the rise of social inequalities
through the promotion of the best practices, dialogue & co-operation
between social partners

Presentation of 3 good practices:

Polish integration experience - Joanna Brzozowska, Nauwc (pl)
Associated work - Bruno Roelants, Cecop (eur)
Employment creation & quality employment - Elisabeth Bost, Coopaname (fr)

Coordinator: Ray Collins, Cooperatives Europe

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 17.30 Cooperating together for social interest, trust and innovation :
co-operative and multi stakeholder enterprises
Marco Scurria, Member of the European Parliament
Chris de Noose, Managing Director of the European Savings Banks Group (esbg)

Alain Coheur, President of Social Economy Europe (see)

Vasil Velev, President of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (bica)
Walter Cerfeda, European Trade Union Confederation
Marie Zvolska, Vice-president of the Employers’ Group of the eesc

Moderator: Pauline Green, co-President of Cooperatives Europe

Questions and answers

17.30 End of the first conference day

20.00 – 23.30 Dinner

Tuesday, 23 june 2009

08.45 – 10.45 The European co-operative future: threats and opportunities

Carlo Borzaga, President of Euricse

Round table of the Presidents of European sector-based  

co-operative organisations

10.45 – 11.15 A manifesto for the European Union institutions

Etienne Pflimlin, co-President of Cooperatives Europe

11.15 End of the conference

***
 working languages
bulgarian, english, french, italian, spanish, polish, russian

venue
CONFERENCE HALL OF CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE UNION
99 G.S. RAKOVSKI STR.
BU - 1000 SOFIA

information & contact

COOPERATIVES EUROPE ASBL
European region of ICA
Cooperative Europe House
Avenue Milcamps 105
BE - 1030 Brussels
Tel. (32/2) 743 10 33
office@coopseurope.coop
www.coopseurope.coop

Conference organised with the financial support of

DG «Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities»
of the European Commission

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