Berne Union
Since 1999, we are a member of the Berne Union, i.e. The International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers founded in 1934.
The Berne Union promotes uniform principles for export credit and investment insurance establishing also the forum of cooperation among public and private insurance agencies, within organized twice-a-year meetings of all members, ad hoc seminaries and workshops, and within the current exchange of the information and experiences among the insurers. In accordance with the message included in “Value Statement”, members of the Berne Union declare their commitment to operate in a professional manner that is financially responsible, respectful of the environment and which demonstrates high ethical values. Internally, the Berne Union activity is bound up with the rules covered by “Guiding Principles”, adopted in October 2008 which duly replaced “General Understanding” and sectoral understandings. The document reflects the main idea of members activity and promoting practices that contribute to sustainable economic growth. Based on this “Guiding Principles”, the detailed and practical guidelines have been worked out and collected in “Operational Guidelines” separately set for investments, medium and long term and short term credits. In the external relations the Berne Union acts as an advocate of its members within the “Berne Union Advocacy”.
One of the relevant aspects of this cooperation is the support given to newly established credit and investment insurance agencies within the Prague Club. The Prague Club was founded in 1993, under the auspices of the Berne Union, among others by the initiative of KUKE. The aim was to work out an information exchange forum for newly established credit and investment agencies as well as to encourage the international trade development in a course of supporting unified rules both for export credit insurances, and foreign investments. Members of the Prague Club aspiring to join the Berne Union, originate in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. During a meeting that took place in Warsaw in May 2016, members of the Berne Union and Prague Club decided to fully integrate the Prague Club into the Berne Union. Currently the Prague Club functions as a committee within the framework of the Berne Union.