DRAFT MINUTES by Bruno Roelants, General Secretary and Helena Capova, Assistant to the President

Transcription

1 CICOPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING CEBU, PHILIPPINES, DRAFT MINUTES by Bruno Roelants, General Secretary and Helena Capova, Assistant to the President Present EC Members, including assistants and ex-officio: Helena Capova (representing President M. Rybar): SZVD, Slovakia B.S. Vishwanathan (Vice President): NCUI, India Masazumi Kanno (member) Japanese Workers Coop Union Mami Gemba (assistant to M. Kanno) Japanese Workers Coop Union Sona Janisova (representing member J. Wiesner): SCMVD, Czech Republic Ruben Villa (consultant) COCETA-UMCTA, Spain Bruno Roelants (general secretary) : CICOPA Special invitees Ivano Barberini Iain Macdonald Persons invited as observers: Jiro Ito Cielo Bueno Byun Han-Sik Park Sung-Churl Eum Hyung-Sik ICA President ICA Director General ICA-ROAP (Director, Special Programs) Kaabbay Entre-Workers Coop, Philippines (Dir) Korean Federation of Worker Cooperatives (Chair) Korean Federation of Worker Cooperatives (Staff) Social Employment Dev.t Agency, Korea (Staff) EC members who communicated that they could not attend and could not be represented: M.H. El Sebaiy (Vice President) P.C.U. Egypt Walter Tesch (Vice President) CICOPA-Americas & Cotrabalho, Brazil Felice Scalvini (Vice President) CECOP/CICOPA-Europe & Confcooperative, Italy Clemente Jaimes (Member) Ascoop, Colombia Preliminary remark concerning the quorum Since the President and EC Member J. Wiesner are both formally represented at the meeting, and with the presence of CICOPA Vice President B.S. Vishwanathan and M. Kanno, the quorum of four EC Members is reached (as per CICOPA rules, art 10. 4)). Opening B. Roelants informs participants that M.. Rybar and J. Wiesner are unwell and cannot attend, and have entrusted Helena Capova and Sona Janisova to replace them respectively. He therefore proposes that H. Capova chair the meeting on behalf of the CICOPA President. The proposal is unanimously approved. Chairperson H. Capova welcomes all participants. Upon B.S. Vishwanathan s suggestion, B. Roelants then gives a small update on CICOPA, and I. Barberini, ICA President, contributes a few introductory comments. I. Barberini mentions that there is a need for more integration within the ICA. Sectoral integration is particularly important, requiring the provision of services to members. The specialized bodies (SB) are particularly important. This is one of the main issues in the restructuring of the ICA, as mentioned in the ICA

2 Task Force Report. There is a need for enhanced cooperation, and this is one of the topic of the meeting to be held on 17 March between the ICA and SBs. Last year, the cooperative movement reached a good result with the ILO recommendation, not only for the outcome itself, but also because it was a good example of cooperation. After a year in which the cooperative movement had been divided over the issue, this time it was united. Concerning the financial problems of the ICA, I. Barberini mentions that, in April 2002, it was found out that the ICA had a SF deficit. The ICA requested members to donate voluntary contributions, and the losses were thus compensated. For 2003, a positive result is forecast. The ICA needs to give more sense of belonging to members, according to I. Barberini, but must also have more visibility. It is important to show that the cooperative movement is addressing the main issues of our time: poverty and hunger. This latter topic could be a central one for the ICA. Point 1. Welcome and approval of the agenda The Chairperson proposes a slight modification in the order, putting point 9 ahead of schedule, because B.S Vishwanathan has to leave earlier. The agenda is approved without comments. Point 2. Approval of the Minutes of the last EC meeting (14 June 2002, Geneva) After the Chairperson invites the participants to present comments, the minutes are approved without modifications. Point 9. Admission of new members. The Chairperson informs that two new organisations are applying for membership, one from Korea, one from the Philippines, and invites their respective representatives to present their organisations. Byun Han-Sik (Chairman) presents the Korean Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The federation was established 4 months ago and has very few cooperatives directly affiliated at present (only 3, plus individual members representing other ones), but there are very big opportunities now in Korea for the worker cooperative movement, which is developing very rapidly. He ensures that the federation will soon affiliate many more worker cooperatives. Cielo Bueno (Director) presents the Kaakbay Entre-Worker Cooperative in Quezon City, Philippines, established in 1998, and the 4 replications that have taken place in other parts of the country (one in the South among displaced workers), and to whom they are franchising the same stationary products. The 5 Kaakbay cooperatives have established an informal federation among themselves, which can only be formally established when there are 8 cooperatives, as per the Filipino legislation. The formal establishment of the federation is planned within about one year. It is important to apply the ILO Recommendation in the Philippines, but the present cooperative law is not conducive to the development of worker cooperatives. The main problems of worker cooperatives in the Philippines are capitalization, management and education. The main aim is job creation, human development and concern for the community. The Korean Federation of Worker Cooperatives is accepted as a CICOPA full member. The Kaakbay Entre- Worker Cooperative is accepted as an associate member for the time being, in the name of the informal federation, and in the understanding that the Kaakbay federation will become a full member once it is established formally. At this point, B.S. Vishwanathan bids farewell to all participants, and confirms his overall agreement with the two documents to be examined under agenda points 5 and 6 (point 5 including also the main topic for

3 point 8), after examination and discussion at the preparatory meeting held with the other 3 EC Members during the preparatory meeting on Point 3. President s report on activities undertaken since the last meeting of the EC. The Chairperson delivers the President s report on his behalf. A) ILO Recommendation N 193. The recommendation was approved on 20 June 2002 with 436 votes in favour, 0 votes against, and 3 abstentions (Australian government and Venezualan employers). This was a big success, after more than 30 years since the old recommendation, which was only for developing countries. The representatives of national cooperative organisations from 13 countries have taken part in the work of the Comission for the promotion of cooperatives of the ILO Conference: Costa Rica, Israel, Kenya, Polonia, Uruguay, in the Government group Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Italy, Mongolia, Slovakia, in the Employers group. Japan in the Workers group. This group was reinforced by the government representatives from the following countries: Argentina, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa. This group managed to have the Comission approve most of the proposals included in the ICA Position. The most important results are: The definition of the ICA in its original form, all the cooperative values, and the cooperative principles in their original explanation in an annex. Furthermore, the text directly mentions the ICA and the Statement on the Cooperative Identity (para 2, 3 & annex); The promotion of cooperative development structures (para 11 (4) ). Promotion policies that allow for the constitution of indivisible reserves (para 6 (b)). The promotion of the rights of workers-members (16 (g)). B) Change of CICOPA secretariat. On 14 June 2002, the last EC meeting decided the transfer of the secretariat of CICOPA to Brussels, the appointment of Bruno Roelants as general secretary, and the task entrusted to B. Roelants to elaborate a draft strategic document. This was communicated shortly afterwards by the CICOPA President to the ICA President, ICA Director General, the ICA Regional Directors, the Presidents of the various Specialised Bodies, and all CICOPA members. C) Regional meetings Mauritius 16 th September 2002: Decision to establish a contact point for the Africa Region Asuncion 1-2 October 2002: General Assembly of CICOPA Americas, and establishment of 4 subregions (North, Central+Caribbean, Andes, South).Prague European Social Economy Conference, October 2002, and General Assembly of CECOP/CICOPA-Europe S.Janisova distributed the new issue of Czech Co-operator which contains the conclusions of the Prague Conference. B. Roelants emphasises that his new appointment as general secretary is only part time, being able to dedicate 10-20% of his time to this task. Point 4. Financial matters The Chairperson comments the financial report for Because CECOP/CICOPA-Europe did not pay the European members membership fees in 2002, and other members, such as NCUI, did not pay either, the CICOPA income was particularly low last year, while CICOPA still had to pay 7000 CHF for secretarial

4 services to the ICA. H. Capova refers to the request made by B.S. Vishwanathan to the CICOPA President to reduce the membership fee for the past two years to one half. Concerning the 2003 budget, a tentative draft is presented, but a definitive budget will be sent to EC members only after discussions in mid-march with the ICA on the secretarial services, and with the Norwegian host of the CICOPA World Conference on the cost of the latter. Point 5. Discussion on the strategic document of CICOPA and development activities. The Chairperson gives the floor to B. Roelants to introduce the topic. B. Roelants reports on the questionnaire and on the consequent proposals for the CICOPA strategic document (already distributed to all EC Members beforehand), including additional comments by Vice President W. Tesch. The participants make their comments and express a broad agreement with the proposals, as had previously done the Vice Presidents W. Tesch and F. Scalvini in separate communications. The top priority of legislation is underlined, especially by M. Kanno. ICA President Barberini feels that this document is helpful for the SB meeting in Geneva on March 17. However, he advises to focus on priorities, and to avoid potential conflicts with other SBs on the limits to the respective sectors. R. Villa emphasises that the coordination of the relations with the international organisations should be left strictly to the ICA. I. Barberini considers that there is no problem that SBs meet international organisations, but it should be done with a certain level of coordination with the ICA, which should open the doors. Furthermore, I. Barberini adds that the social economy is a difficult concept, with a still unclear definition, and advises not to name it directly at this stage in strategic documents. A rewording of certain parts of the proposals is thus agreed among participants (see draft proposals for CICOPA strategic document ). It is agreed to urgently re-submit the slightly modified draft strategic document to EC members for them to to B. Roelants their latest comments and final approval not later than March 5, in time for the preparation of the SB meeting on March 17. Concerning the development activities, the topic has been addressed under the strategic document, which includes a whole section on development and training/consultancy activities. Furthermore, B. Roelants informs that he has been selected as director of Diesis Coop (on a part-time basis), a new international cooperative development and training organisation based in Brussels, which replaces CECOP R&D. Unlike for ex CECOP R&D, CECOP / CICOPA-Europe is not a member of Diesis Coop. Instead, Diesis Coop is preparing to be a member of CECOP/ CICOPA-Europe, and therefore also of CICOPA. Diesis Coop will be able to help address the question of development activities within the CICOPA network. Point 6: ICA Task Force Report and CICOPA comments ICA Director General I. Macdonald joins the meeting, and apologizes for not having attended the morning session, because of an unexpected commitment. The Chairperson asks I. Macdonald to say a few words. I. Macdonald mentions the major issue the ICA is concerned with : the ICA Task Force Report and its implementation. By the end of the month, the ICA will have all comments from regions, from SBs, from individual members. The other issue for the ICA is how to improve finances. ICA Director General reminded the General Assembly of the ICA to be held in September, in Oslo. The Chairperson then gives the floor to B. Roelants, who introduces the comments to the ICA Task Force Report (already distributed to all EC Members beforehand), and explains that these are largely based on the results of the questionnaire to CICOPA members. Vice Presidents W. Tesch and F. Scalvini have given their

5 approval to those comments, and the former also added a few comments, which are shared with the participants. ICA President Barberini reiterates his comments on the social economy (see point 5 above) and advises not to insist on the topic of possible relocation of ICA headquarters, as the issue has been postponed by the ICA. Further he referred to the issue of the ICA mission and the output of the Asia Co-operative Development Forum. He pointed out the one common strategy of the ICA Co-operatives against poverty. Participants agree to take I. Barberini s comments into account. It is agreed to urgently re-submit the slightly modified Task Force Report comments to EC members for them to to B. Roelants their latest comments and final approval not later than March 5, in time for the preparation of the SB meeting on March 17. Point 7 & 8: Preparation of CICOPA meetings in Oslo + programme of CICOPA World Conference The Chairperson informs participants that the CICOPA Presidency has already discussed the whole issue with the ICA and with the Norwegian host. The agreement is to have all CICOPA events on Sept. 5 and 6, 2003, one day for the CICOPA World Conference, and the other day for the CICOPA General Assembly and Executive Committee meeting. Further discussions with ICA and Norwegian hosts will take place on March 17 on this topic, at the occasion of the ICA-SB meeting. The Chairperson refers the President s proposal to establish a preparatory committee to the CICOPA World Conference and leaves the floor to B. Roelants on this topic. B Roelants first observes that the main topic of the Conference has already been handled under Agenda Point 5 (strategic document), following a majority response on this issue in the questionnaire sent to all CICOPA members. The Conference main focus will be to issue a declaration of cooperative associated labour / work, complementary to the Statement of Cooperative Identity for worker cooperation. Concerning the preparatory committee, according to B. Roelants, it has two main tasks: Logistical preparation, to be handled chiefly by persons residing in Europe, since the Conference takes place in that region. Organisation of the contents, including the text of the declaration and the various presentations. For this, the committee should have members on all 4 continents. A tentative first list of members is proposed: CICOPA president M. Rybar and his staff, B. Roelants, R. Villa, someone to be designated by CECOP/CICOPA-Europe, Walter Tesch as President of CICOPA- Americas (the organ that proposed the topic of the Conference). M. Kanno proposes himself for Asia. Further consultations should take place to identify someone in Africa. The participants agree on these proposals. I. Macdonald also asks the preparatory committee to do its work in close coordination with Gabriella Sozanski of the ICA staff, who is in charge of the organisation of all the ICA Oslo events. Point 10: AOB Mr Jiro Ito asked the floor to inform the participants about the 4 th youth seminar to be held in August 2003 in Malaysia. He recalled the previous meetings of young cooperators. Members of the EC were invited to disseminate this information within their respective federations. The Chairperson takes advantage of the presence of ICA Director General I. Macdonald (who was not present in the morning during the discussion of agenda point 4 on the financial situation) to come back to the question of the 7000 CHF withdrawn by the ICA for secretarial services in I. Macdonald responds that he is not informed about this specific question, but that he will inquire.

6 Being there no other topics to be discussed, the Chairperson thanks all participants and declares the EC meeting closed. All participants in turn thank the Chairperson for her work.