The President of the International Cooperative Alliance joined Cooperatives Europe’s (the regional organisation of the ICA in Europe) annual meeting, and visited ICA members in Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova.
“The ICA with its regions, its sectors and its thematic committees, is an organisation that demonstrates that it is possible to act in unity from the enormous diversity that it represents. That is why I invite you to exercise dialogue, to seek consensus, and to defend everything we have in common, starting from the same base: cooperative principles and values”, said Ariel Guarco to key representatives of the European cooperative movement, who came together at the assembly in the French city of Strasbourg on Thursday 6th.
The President was there to debate the role of the sector on the continental agenda – with the parliamentary elections of the 26 May still looming large which he had promoted a fierce advocacy campaign for.
“We need to raise awareness of how cooperatives contribute to conflict mitigation, promote dialogue, and construct solidarity-based communities” urged Guarco, who also praised the joint project between the ICA and the European Commission to foster development hand in hand with cooperatives.
In the days leading up to the event, the ICA President visited members in Eastern Europe.
-Coop News