将分散合作重新列入欧洲 - 拉丁美洲议程

CIDOB Opinion 712 highlights the importance of decentralized cooperation between European and Latin American cities, emphasizing the potential benefits for improving the quality of public policies in both regions. This form of cooperation has historically been rich and dynamic, characterized by shared history, culture, economy, and politics. The document mentions several initiatives, including the European Union's URB-AL program, which has significantly contributed to fostering bi-regional cooperation between local governments, focusing on areas such as democratic governance, gender equality, social cohesion, local economic development, and combating climate change.

Key points from the document include:

1. Past Successes: The European Union has long encouraged the exchange and development of shared solutions through various programs and networks, many of which have been highly innovative. Examples include the Centro Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Estratégico Urbano (CIDEU), the Unión de Ciudades Capitales Iberoamericanas (UCCI), and the Alianza Eurolatinoamericana de Cooperación entre Ciudades (AL-LAs).

2. Diminishing Support: Despite past successes, the document notes that recent European institutional support for decentralized cooperation has diminished, potentially making it marginal. This decline might be attributed to initial signs of less promising outcomes.

3. Relevance in Current Context: The document argues that the central role of cities in managing the pandemic, addressing climate and digital transitions, and fighting inequalities makes decentralized cooperation crucial for European priorities in the near future.

4. Current Challenges: There are concerns about the potential cessation of European support for decentralized cooperation, which could undermine the empowerment of local governments at a critical juncture where they are expected to lead in strategic advancements related to climate neutrality, digital transformation, and combating inequality.

5. Future Opportunities: To address these challenges, the document suggests several options for strengthening decentralized cooperation, including enhancing the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program, opening new regional programs like EUROsociAL+ and EUROCLIMA+ to direct city participation, and empowering mechanisms that facilitate the connection between country programs and decentralized cooperation.

6. Prioritization and Responsibility: The document concludes by advocating for prioritizing the decentralization and sustainable urban and territorial development agenda in Euro-Latin American political dialogue, emphasizing the importance of proximity policies in the recovery process and the collective responsibility of ensuring decentralized cooperation regains visibility as a tool for empowering local governments and transforming urban realities.