Brussels, 24th April 2012 -

European Cooperative Week

"Cooperatives working towards a fair and competitive food supply chain"

Brussels, 24th April 2012 - European Cooperative Week

"Cooperatives working towards a fair and competitive food supply chain"

In celebration of Co-operative Week, Euro Coop, Cogeca and the European Economic and Social Commitee co-organised a conference “Cooperatives working towards a fair and competitive food supply chain” on 24 April in Brussels.

Speakers from the European Commission, European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee offered an institutional perspective on the co-operative role in bettering the food supply chain, and European co-operative organisations presented best practices to improve fairness and competition.

The event took place at the European Economic and Social Committee. Please refer to the programme below and the accompanying presentations.

9.30                       Welcome and opening remarks

                               Staffan Nilson, President, EESC

                               Mario Campli, President, NAT Section, EESC

9.40                       Keynote speech

                               Claire Bury, Director, Directorate E, Services, DG Internal Market and Services, European Commission

10.00                     Institutional perspective

                               Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT, MEP (EPP, SE)  (video)

                               Jesper Wulff Pedersen, Minister Counsellor, Agriculture, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU

                               Carlos Trias Pinto, Member, EESC - presentation

10.30                     Co-operative good practices

                               “The practices applied by a cooperative to rebalance the operation in the food supply chain”, Nicolas
                               Sesmat, Secrétaire Général, Sodiaal Union, France  -  presentation 

                               “Local and organic food as a part of grocery value chain optimisation in S Group”, Minna Slotte, Division
                               Manager of Fresh Food, Grocery Trade Chain Management, SOK Corporation, Finland
                                - presentation

                               Debate

11.30                     Coffee break

11.45                     Co-operative good practices (cont.)

                               “How the Dutch fruit and vegetable cooperatives collaborate with retailers; the case of The Greenery”,
                               Hans Van Es, The Greenery, Director DPA, The Netherlands  -  presentation

                               “Territori.coop: an ethical link to local communities”, Roberto Fiammenghi, Sales Managing Adviser for
                               Food, Coop Italy -  presentation - presentation

                               Debate

12.45                     Concluding remarks

                               Paolo Bruni, President of Cogeca

                               Aldo Soldi, President of Euro Coop

                               Mario Campli, President, NAT Section, EESC

13.00                     (Working) Lunch