The 3rd Annual ICAO Workshop
Theme: Promotion of rural development through agricultural co-operatives 

After twice being held in Korea, the 3rd ICAO Workshop was held in Hungary. ICAO made the initiative to organize cooperation among an ICA regional office, member cooperatives,a specialized body and an international organization outside ICA.

ICAO and the ICA Regional Office for Europe organised the International Workshop in collaboration with COGECA, the General Committee of the Agricultural Co-operatives in the EU and MOSZ, the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operators and Producers, Hungary. More than thirty cooperative leaders from Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Korea, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Yugoslavia participated the workshop.

MOSZ hosted the event from June 17th to June 20th. The focus this year was “Promotion of rural development through agricultural co-operatives in Central and Eastern Europe? The objective of the workshop was to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences to facilitate the adaptation of agricultural co-operatives of Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) to the European Unions standards and increase cooperative involvement in the accession to the EU.

In the first session, Mr. Pekka Pesonen, Chairman of COGECAs Co-operative Affairs Committee presented "How can farmers co-operatives best assist their members in CEECs after the EU accession? Mr. J?os Juh?z, FAO, Co-operatives and Rural Organisations Officer explained "The role of co-operatives in sustainable agricultural and rural development - FAO policies, strategies and programmes". Prof. Gert van Dijk, General Secretary of the National Co-operative Council NCR, the Netherlands presented "Remain locally successful in a globalized world - the development of Dutch farmer-owned businesses"

On the second day, Mr. Lars Hillbom, President ICA Europe focused on "The share of agricultural member organisations in ICA Europe". Dr. Herbert Kellner, Deputy Secretary General of COGECA discussed "The European associations of farmers and agricultural co-operatives in an enlarged Europe". Finally, Mr. Shil-Kwan Lee, Secretary General of ICAO told the experiences of NACF in Korea. For the first two days country reports were also presented.

On the final day of the workshop, the participant visited an agricultural co-operative in Nagyalasony and a "Hangya" co-operative. There was a brief information session at the Regional Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives in Veszpr.