Hosted by the Co-operative Party, this is a major policy conference based in the North East rather than the South East!

This is also the International Year of Co-operatives.

Chaired by Stephen Hughes MEP, Durham.

Speakers include

• Martin Gannon - Deputy Leader of Gateshead Council
• Nick Forbes - Leader of Newcastle Council
• Alejandro Cercas - MEP, Spain, Employment and Social Affairs
• Pervenche Beres - MEP, France, Employment and Social Affairs
• Judith Kirton-Darling - ETUC
• Erica Mezger - Eurofound, An independent European Policy Foundation

Discussions will include

• Youth Unemployment reversal
• Long term unemployment addressed
• Strong and effective government
• Localising decision making
• Co-operatives and socially responsible enterprises
• Growth and the rebuttal of austerity