The message reads, in part:
“I welcome you at this Assembly, which has brought together delegates from 42 European states. Holding this major forum in the capitol of Russia is a crucial milestone to pave the way towards 2012, which has been declared the International Year of Cooperatives by the UN General Assembly.
You will be exchanging views on the role of cooperatives in resolving economic and social challenges in modern Europe and measures to strengthen cooperation with authorities, as well as examining current and potential future models for developing the cooperative movement.
I am confident that your engaged discussion of these current issues will help in designing new much needed practical initiatives.”
The Cooperatives Europe General Assembly and European Conference, Facing Europe’s Economic and Social Challenges: the Cooperative Way, is being held in Moscow on May 30 and 31, 2011.