Cooperatives Europe delegates voted for a revision of the statutes at their General Assembly in Istanbul, which led to the creation of a single Presidency, with Dirk Lehnhoff becoming the first elected single President. With the election of Mr Lehnhoff, the structure of Co-operatives Europe has also been changed. The General Assembly approved changes in the statutes, so that now Cooperatives Europe has one President, instead of two Vice Presidents.
The General Assembly, which took place on 6 May, also featured two interactive workshops and a keynote speech from the Turkish Minister for Customs and Trade.
Mr Lenhoff is currently member of the Board of Directors of the Department of German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV) and has helped to create more than 600 new co-operatives, particularly in renewable energy. More than two thirds of the 90 per cent members taking part in the General Assembly voted in favour of his election.
In his speech at the General Assembly, Dirk Lehnhoff thanked ICA President, Dame Pauline Green, and outgoing Vice Presidents, Etienne Pflimlin and Felice Scalvini "for their leadership and consolidation of the European cooperative movement over the last three years".
Referring to the challenges and opportunities lying ahead for Coops Europe, Mr Lehnhoff said a major problem is that EU institutions lack a ‘co-operative reflex’. He said: “We will work on that much more aggressively and intensively over the coming years to redress that fundamental imbalance, because we are convinced that business diversity is the guarantor for a more stable and job creating European economy."
The new President also commended the ICA’s Blueprint, saying there is a common co-operative identity within Europe, with co-ops being “linked via co-operative values and principles”.
He added that Cooperatives Europe plans to build on that identity while engaging with national governments to grow the movement. He adds: “The co-operative movement needs to deliver a clear strategy at EU level and talk with one voice. Our 2012 document 'Co-operatives for Europe: moving forward together' is a first step towards such a co-operative manifesto. But any action at EU level also needs to be supported at national level."
Following the General Assembly session, Cooperatives Europe co-hosted two workshops on EU advocacy and co-operative development in South Eastern Europe. Throughout the debate, speakers highlighted the need to strengthen the co-operative movement as a key development actor.
Klaus Niederländer, Director of Cooperatives Europe, said: “The General Assembly in Istanbul marked another milestone in the development of Cooperatives Europe as THE European representative organisation of all co-operatives."
He added that the organisation was strengthened with the election of Mr Lehnhoff and with three new board members: Pernilla Bonde – CEO of HSB, the largest housing cooperative in Sweden, Jacques Landriot – President of Cheques Dejeuner and Member of Coop FR and Ilhami Teke, President of Tarimkredi, the largest Turkish agricultural credit cooperative joined the ICA Board.
“May the co-operative decade begin to shape up in Europe,” he commented.
Photo: President of Cooperatives Europe, Dirk Lehnhoff, at the General Assembly in Istanbul.
