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Cooperation has long traditions in Lithuania. The first Lithuanian
cooperative was established in 1869 in Vilnius.
A major role in the development of cooperation in Lithuanian was played by
the union of cooperatives Lietukis, which operated from 1923 till the occupation
of Lithuania in 1940. Throughout these difficult years, the interests of members
of cooperatives and their autonomy were defended by The Union of
Lithuanian Consumers’ Cooperatives (Lietkoopsajunga) established on the
basis of Lietukis. This union helped to provide people with products and
strengthen their material facilities by buying agricultural products from their
farms. Unfortunately, throughout the socialist years, much damage was inflicted
on the cooperation movement. The independence of cooperatives was restricted, a
certain part of profits was removed, cooperation was forced out of big
cities. Some credit, agricultural and other cooperatives disappeared.
After Lithuania regained independence and the Seimas of the Republic of
Lithuania ratified the Cooperative Law in 1993, the independence and property of
cooperative companies were legitimized.
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History Dateline |
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1869 The first consumer cooperative is founded in Vilnius.
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1919 The law of cooperative companies and their unions is
passed. |
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1920 LKBS joined the International Cooperation Alliance (ICA),
and in 1924 – the International Wholesale Union. |
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1923 Lietukis, the Union of Lithuanian agricultural
cooperatives, is established. |
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1940 The union of Lithuanian consumer
cooperatives(Lietkoopsajunga) is established on the basis of Lietukis.
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1991 Lietkoopsajunga became independent of the USSR
consumer cooperatives’ union. |
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1991 Lietkoopsajunga, as the successor of Lietukis, renewed the
membership in International Cooperation Alliance. |
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1993 The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania passed the
Cooperative Law (later, the Law of Cooperative Companies (Coopeartives)
and legitimized the cooperative movement and its property. New
regulations of Lietkoopsajunga were passed, the structure of its
management was changed. |
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1994 The first meeting of Lietkoopsajunga member representatives
takes place. |
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1995 Consumers’ cooperative companies are rearranged into
joint-stock companies with one founder. |
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1995 Small regional cooperative unions and consumers’
cooperatives joined larger regional cooperatives, little by little moving
towards the two step management structure: regional consumers’
cooperative – Lietkoopsajunga. |
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1997 The programme of Lithuanian consumers’ cooperation for
1997-1999 is ratified at the meeting of Lietkoopsajunga member
representatives, and a new Board is elected. |
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2000 The programme of Lithuanian consumers’ cooperation for
2000-2002 is ratified at the meeting of Lietkoopsajunga member
representatives, and a new Board is elected. |
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