Newsletter – n°20 – March 2013
News from partners
The Observatory of Decentralised Cooperation and Mercociudades discuss South/South cooperation‘The current international agenda and the rise of new countries bring in new dynamics related to development cooperation processes and have a clear impact on the way decentralised cooperation is carried out’ Octavi de la Varga, head of Development Cooperation Office of the Diputacio de Barcelona, said.
The challenges of South/South cooperation were discussed in the context of a workshop organised by the Observatory of Decentralised Cooperation between the EU and Latin America and Mercociudades on 13-14 March.
The participants highlighted that a common understanding of historical development processes and common realities are two important departing points. They pointed out that South/South cooperation allows territories to contribute to the regional integration processes and allows for the creation of a shared identity. Finally it was stated that it facilitates a better use of resources and a better enhancement of the capacities of the participating territories.
More than 40 representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chilli, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela discussed these ideas.
Background information
Mercociudades was created in 1985 by mayors of the main cities of the Southern Cone Region aiming to promote the participation of cities and towns in the regional integration process, to develop an institutional forum for local governments within MERCOSUR and to enhance exchanges and horizontal cooperation between local authorities of the region. It is currently made up of 272 cities.
