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This document has been made available in electronic
format by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
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April, 1997
(Source: ICA News, Issue No.2/1997)


                     European Council Meets in Italy
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This spring's European Council meeting was hosted by the 
ICA's Italian member organisations in Rome on 21 March 
1997.  Among the items discussed were gender issues, which 
constitute an integral part of all European programmes. With 
the goal of encouraging a higher level of participation by 
European women co-operators in ICA activities and governing 
bodies, the Council decided to evaluate and analyse the answers 
to the ICA President's Gender Policy letter, as well as review 
the Rules for the European Region from a gender perspective.  
In light of the ever-increasing impact of the European Union's 
enlargement on co-operatives, it was decided to organise a 
seminar dealing with this topic in November 1997.  The 
invitation of the Czech co-operative movement to host the 
seminar was accepted.  

Another item addressed was how to best represent European 
co-operatives, in order to avoid overlapping activities and to 
ensure smooth co-ordination with parallel institutions.  To 
further discuss this issue, a Working Group was set up under 
the chairmanship of Calixte Parpais, of Credit Mutuel, France. 

Council members agreed that the next Regional Assembly for 
Europe would be held 15 and 16 October 1998 in Paris.  

The European Council will meet on 13 September 1997,  
prior to the ICA General Assembly in Geneva.