Slide 9 of 14

We are aware that a great number co-operative organisation in West European countries have established bilateral contacts and provide assistance to their East European partner organisations in various forms, mainly through the transfer of know-how and expertise. There are also good examples of sub-regional co-operation, such as in the Baltic Sea area, the Mediterranean countries, the Black Sea region and in Central and Eastern Europe involving the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

In order not to overlap with these efforts, it became necessary for ICA Europe to define its role in development, which is:

• promoter
• facilitator and
• co-ordinator of activities aimed at the strengthening of co-operatives in Central and Eastern Europe.