This project was the result of the input that the European Commission has given to Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) in its relationship with other parts of the world through the Directorate General of Regional and Urban Policy (DG Regio), being the second activity implemented of this kind and amplifying the effects of the first phase performed in 2012. The growing incorporation of territorial elements into the strategic association of the EU with Latin America let local and regional authorities play a bigger role. Many national governments have also incorporated CBC in their agendas. From the conclusions and recommendations of the study "CBC in Latin America: contribution to the regional integration process" promoted by the European Commission (DG Regio) in 2010 with the support of the European Parliament, a road map was proposed highlighting the generation of political will and systematic training of local actors as main challenges. The actions implemented by different players from all sectors at local, regional and national level, as well as supranational processes in Latin America (MERCOSUR, Andean Community, UNASUR), and some territorial cooperation structures consolidating their operations in these borders have been followed.
The project "EU-Latin America collaboration on Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) in the Framework of Regional Policy" (contract with reference 2012.CE.16.0.AT.035) has had as main tasks the organization of two information sessions in Europe, four workshops and several additional working sessions on the ground for Latin American experts and politicians involved in CBC. The first Information Session (IS-3) was organized between the 19th April and the 4th May 2013 across the border regions of Basque Country (Spain) and Aquitaine (France); Catalonia (Spain) and Languedoc-Roussillon (France); Berlin (Germany), Brandenburg (Germany), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Germany), West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Poland), Euroregion Europa Pro-Viadrina (Germany-Poland), Lubusz Voivodeship (Poland), and the Free State of Saxony (Germany), ending with a visit to several European Union (EU) institutions in Brussels. The second (IS-4) run between the 20th May and the 6th June 2013 across the border regions along the Rhine and the BENELUX: Euroregion Meuse-Rhine (Belgium-Germany-the Netherlands), the Great Region (Belgium-Germany-France-Luxembourg), Eurodistrict Saar-Moselle (Germany-France), Alsace (France), Euroregion Scheldemond (Belgium-the Netherlands) and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai (Belgium-France). EU institutions in Brussels were also visited, as well as Paris —a working session with the Mission Operationnelle Transfrontaliére (MOT)— and the Euroregion Galicia-North (Spain-Portugal).