EU - Peru cooperation on regional and urban policy

In the framework of processes aimed at reducing internal economic and social disparities, as well as promoting cross-border cooperation, the Republic of Peru and the European Union face similar challenges in reaching a more balanced territorial development.

In May 2013, DG REGIO and the Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Peru exchanged letters of intent establishing a dialogue on regional policy and border integration. The dialogue takes place in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding of 2009 establishing a mechanism for bilateral consultations between the European Commission and the Republic of Peru.

The dialogue addresses exchange of information and good practices, inter alia, on policies aimed at promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion as well as innovation and technological development; on cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation; on setting up and implementing regional policies and development and border integration policies, including capacity building, in particular at regional and local level; on multi-level governance and decentralization issues; on sustainable economic development and corporate social responsibility at territorial level.

Peru is an important partner for the EU in the actions carried out to further this cooperation, namely:

• International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme for city-to-city cooperation on sustainable urban development and region-to-region cooperation on regional innovation
• INNOV-AL project promotes the exchange of knowledge and good practices on the definition and implementation of decentralized innovation policies and smart specialization policies at the regional level and the cooperation between the national and regional authorities of six countries in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) and between these and their counterparts in the EU.
• INNOVACT project diffusing EU regional policy experience and good practices in Latin America
• to facilitate the sharing of information and lessons between European and Latin-American cross-border regions on promoting cross-border cooperation, innovation systems, clusters and competitiveness;
• to identify and develop strategies, action plans and concrete projects or programmes for the development of cross-border value chains,
• and to stimulate and contribute to a learning process based on concrete examples and best practices.
• Seven Latin Americas border areas are covered by INNOVACT, including Peruvian border areas with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.