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Following a two-year review from a Mutuals Working Group, delegates to the ICA General Assembly in Cancun were recommended to propose that mutuals should be allowed full membership.
As it was established during the General Assembly, this will only apply to those mutual organisations that operate in accordance with the Co-operative Values and Principles and each application will be examined on a case-by-case basis.
The working group said that the promotion of genuine mutual organisations within ICA membership would strengthen the representation and solidarity of organisations that adhere to co-operative principles.
Jean-Louis Bancel, Working Group particpant and Executive Vice Chairman of Credit Cooperatif, said: "It is true that the definition of a mutual can be misleading, I can give you the example of a few corporations that still use the mutual name even though they are notmutuals. I also believe the ICA should do something about it, to protect genuine organisations."
Bancel added: "We believe there should be no contradictions and we should be clear in our legal identities. We believe that mutuals should have that opportunity to join us, on a case-by-case basis.”
The Mutuals Working Group resolution presented to the General Assembly expressed:
“WHEREAS, the General Assembly at its Extraordinary Session in Rome in 2008 adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of "an ad-hoc working group consisting of appropriate representatives" to "submit to the ICA Board, for final adoption by ICA General Assembly, recommendations on whether ICA should accept mutual organisations of various sectors as members"; and
WHEREAS, the ICA Board did establish a Mutuals Working Group, which has reviewed the matter and provided a recommendation to the Board; and
WHEREAS, the Mutuals Working Group acknowledged the existing membership of mutual organisations among ICA members; and
WHEREAS, the Mutuals Working Group believes the encouragement of appropriate mutual organisations within ICA membership would strengthen the representation and solidarity of organisations that adhere to co-operative principles;
Therefore, the Mutuals Working Group proposes the following resolution for presentation to the ICA Board and to the 2011 General Assembly:
RESOLVED that the International Co-operative Alliance consider eligible for admittance to full membership those mutual organisations that operate in accordance with the Co-operative Values and Principles; provided that eachapplication will be carefully examined on a case-by-case basis, following consultation with the appropriate regional office and with any relevant apex or national cooperative member.”
