EU-Latin America Collaboration on Cross-Border Cooperation in the Framework of Regional Policy: Information Sessions 1 and 2 in Europe for Latin American Experts and Workshops 1 and 2 in Latin America

The input of the European Commission to Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) through the Directorate General of Regional and Urban Policy (DG Regio) incorporates a growing number of territorial elements into the strategic association of the EU with Latin America. Local and regional authorities play a growing role, while national governments have incorporated CBC in their agendas. From the conclusions and recommendations of the study “CBC in Latin America: contribution to the regional integration process” promoted the European Commission (DG Regio) in 2010 with the support of the European Parliament, a road map was proposed which included as main elements the generation of political will and systematic training of local actors. The actions implemented by different players at local, regional and national level, as well as supranational processes in Latin America (MERCOSUR, Andean Community, UNASUR), and some territorial cooperation structures have been followed.

The project “EU-Latin America collaboration on Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) in the Framework of Regional Policy” (contract with reference 2011.CE.16.0.AT.044) had as main tasks the organization of two information sessions in Europe and two workshops on the ground for Latin American experts and politicians involved in CBC. The first Information Session (IS-1) was organized between the 14th and the 29th of April 2012 across the border regions of Germany with the Netherlands and Belgium: EUREGIO and Euroregion Meuse-Rhine; in Brussels; and at the border regions of Germany with the Czech Republic and Austria: Euregio Bayerisches Wald-Böhmerwald-Mühlviertel (Bavarian Forests-Bohemian Forests-Quarter of the Mühl) (DE-CZ-AT) and EuRegio Salzburg-Berchtesgadener Land-Traunstein (AT-DE). The second one (IS-2) was performed at the Spanish border regions of Extremadura (Spain) and Alentejo (Portugal); and at the Working Community of the Pyrenees (Comunidad de Trabajo de los Pirineos) in the Charter Community of Navarre, the Basque Country and Aragon in Spain, and Aquitaine in France, between the 30th April and the 14th May 2012.

More information :	EULAC-CBC: EU-Latin America cooperation on cross-border cooperation