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Sofia

22-23 june 2009

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

Final conference of the SPP-C project (Social Partner Programme Consolidation)

provisional 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.

sunday, 21 june 2009

Arrival of the participants

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, Bulgarian MEP Pauline Green, co-Presidente of Cooperatives Europe 10.00 – 11.00 Priorities for a reinforced co-operation between trade union, co-operative and stakeholder enterprises Marie France Boutroue, cgt Jan Olsson, eesc Rainer Schlüter, Cooperatives Europe



Questions and answers

11.00 – 11.30 Break 11.30 – 13.00 Maintaining employment and preventing the rise of social inequalities through the promotion of good practices, dialogue & co-operation between social partners Coordinator : Ray Collins, Cooperatives Europe Presentation of 3 good practices 13.00 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 14.45 Uniting against economic crisis: co-operation between social partners Jean Gautier, ex Member of the French Social and Economic Committee (TBC) 14.45 – 15.00 Shared values for common actions : co-operative and multi stakeholder enterprises Chris de Noose, Managing Director of the European Savings Banks Group (ESBG) (TBC) 15.00 – 15.20 Break 15.20 – 17.30







Panel discussion with the social partners and the European institutions Cooperating together for social interest, trust and innovation Gregor Pozniak, Secretary general of the Association of Mutual Insurers and Insurance Co-operatives in Europe (amice) (TBC) Alain Coheur, President of Social Economy Europe (see) (TBC) Ralf Resch, Secretary general of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (ceep) (TBC) Jean-Paul Tricart, Head of the Social dialogue Unit of the European Commission (TBC) Marie Zvolska, Vice-president of the Employers’ Group of the eesc (TBC) Staffan Nilsson, President of the Various interests Group of the eesc (TBC) Catherine Trautmann, Member of the European Parliament (TBC) Ph. D. Laiko Dulevski, President of the Bulgarian Economic & Social Council Dr. Konstantin Trenchev, President of “Podkrepa”, Bulgarian Confederation



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



Introduction : Carlo Borzaga, President of Euricse (TBC)

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 - SOFIA

information & contact COOPERATIVES EUROPE ASBL Région européenne de l’ACI Maison Europe des Coopératives Avenue Milcamps 105 BE - 1030 Bruxelles Tél. (32/2) 743 10 33 [email protected] www.coopseurope.coop

Organised with the financial support of the DG «Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities» of the European Commission HHH H H H H H H HHH