Slide 10 of 14

The ICA Europe Development Strategy has set as priority areas for development the following three points:

• Promotion
  - co-operative identity and image
  - government policy and legislation
  
• Economic Collaboration
  - capital mobilisation and market knowledge
• Management and Training

All this I said because I would like to expand on some of them. In first place, on the question of legislation. In order to be able to improve co-operative identity and image, in addition to forming public opinion, appropriate legislation has to be in place. We are all aware that laws, and not only co-op laws, do not provide the most suitable and encouraging framework for co-op development and this situation will not change unless the national co-operative movements are recognised as partners in negotiations with governments and they form a strong lobby in Parliament in support of their position.