A delegation of representatives from the Alliance, including the President, Dame Pauline Green, participated in the B20 meetings at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris on the 1 and 2 June. As part of its effort to increase the global influence of the co-operative movement, the Alliance has strengthened its participation in the B20 for 2015 under the Turkish Presidency.
The B20 is the business advisory group that proposes recommendations to the heads of state of G20 countries. The main issues under discussion of relevance for co-operatives include employment, SMEs and entrepreneurship, financial regulations and trade.
The representatives of the Alliance have worked to include under these topics co-operative specific recommendations, such as the role of co-operatives in providing decent jobs, as a model for young entrepreneurs and as a support structure for growth, development and access to markets for SMEs, among others. They now await the final draft of the recommendations that will be presented during the annual G20 meeting that will take place in November in Turkey.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Presidency will organise a B20 conference (3-5 September) and summit (14-15 November) where the Alliance will again be represented and aim for the inclusion of co-operatives in the agenda.
