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International
Today co-operatives have been given two international definitions: by the ILO (1967) and by the ICA (updated in Manchester in 1995)
Acting internationally
French co-operatives and their national organisations have a strategy of international openness. In this respect, their objectives range from the exchange of information to the direct creation of foreign businesses. These goals are carried out through groupings between structures of the same type in various countries. All co-operative banks have an international network. Retailers’ co-operatives have created systems for the exchange of information and procurement partnerships with foreign groupings (Intersport, Sport 2000, Expert, Euro-Meuble). These trademarks/trade names are multiplying trans-national partnerships. Some have opened stores in various European countries, such as Mr. Bricolage in Portugal. This foreign growth is also achieved by consumers’ co-operatives: the Union des Coopérateurs d’Alsace shares part of its activity with its counterpart, Coop Suisse. Camif has operations in Switzerland and in the Czech Republic. Some agricultural co-operatives have a true international dimension. Cooperatives also express their values through assistance to developing countries, in particular through CICOPA, the International Center of Crédit Mutuel and other co-operative banks.
Acting together to be better represented
Co-operatives appoint their representatives at the local, regional, national and international levels. These elected representatives, who rely on the competencies of a permanent technical staff, promote the interests of their members with public authorities, for their respective professions, but also regarding legislative and tax matters.
With their partners from the non-profit sector, co-operatives act at the highest level so that their specific economic and social features may be recognised. In this respect, all co-operative federations belong to European groupings which afford them the opportunity to be heard by European authorities and to dialogue with them.
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