Leading co-op experts to attend 5th Convention on European Banking

High-level representatives from co-operative, financial and political sectors will meet up in Brussels to discuss the future of co-operative banks at the 5th Convention on European Banking on 6 December. 

The Convention will begin with an opening speech from Christian Talgorn, President of European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB), followed by a video message from Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.

The first round table starts at 9:40 with a discussion on how banking legislation proposals and the project of the European Banking Union will impact on co-operative banks.

The panel will focus on both European and International regulatory issues, with a strong emphasis on new plans to create a European Banking Union with: a single European banking supervisor, a common EU deposit-guarantee scheme and a single back-resolution fund.

Important figures will join the debate on the role of co-operative banks in financing the local economy. Among them, Gerhard Hoffman, Vice-President, European Association of Co-operative Banks, Fatima Pires, Deputy Head of Financial Services Division, European Central Bank, Giani Pitella, MEP and Vice-President, European Parliament, and Erik van der Plaats, policy officer, Banks and Financial Conglomerates, European Commission.

The second round table will look at co-operative banks, as committed players for sustainable and equitable growth. Experts and academics will share best practices and exchange ideas, while also assessing the sector’s role in funding social projects, in social responsible investment, green banking and supporting local economies.

Panellists will include: Ryma Ayadi, Senior researches Fellow, Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Andrea Benassi, Secretary-General, European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Entreprises (UEAPME), Jeroo Billmoria, founder, Child and Youth Finance International, Augusto dell’Erba, EACB Board Member and president, Étienne Pflimlin, Honorary president, Confédération nationale du Crédit mutuel and Gerhard Stahl, Secretary general, European Committee of the regions.

The Convention will continue with a keynote speech from Michel Barnier, Member of the European Commission, responsible for Internal Market and Services.

After lunch, Hervé Guider, General Manager of EACB will present the first EACB Award for young researchers on co-operative banks.

At 14:30 there will be a third round table, dedicated to assessing how the UN’s International Year of Co-operatives will affect the future of cooperative banks. The aim of the panel is to identify some key priorities to address the challenges facing co-operative banks as the IYC draws to a close in order to enable the sector to maximise its contribution to addressing the wider challenges facing Europe.

Some preliminary remarks made by Véronique McCarroll, partner at Olivier Wyman. Panellists at this round table include Daniel Calleja, Director General, DG Enterprise and Industry – European Commission, Sven Giegols, MEP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs – European Parliament, Dame Pauline Green, ICA President, Arnold Kujpers, Director Corporate Affairs – Rabobank Nederland, Monique Leroux, CEO Desjardins Group and Masataka Miyazono, Deputy President and Co-CEO, Norinchukin Bank.

The Convention will end with a closing speech from Oliver Pastré, Professor University of Paris VIII and the concluding remarks of EACB’s President, Christian Talgorn.

The official programme is available below.