Reference Document: Decentralised Cooperation in an Uncertain and Unequal World: New Narratives or Back to Its Roots?
The aim of this document is not to provide an exhaustive account of the state of the world, relations between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean or decentralised cooperation. Its objective is to lay the foundations for an in-depth debate on the current state of decentralised cooperation among local and regional governments in the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
It is intended as a springboard for reflection, seeking to identify trends and the positions of different actors through an analysis of the current global context and its impact on the development cooperation system, as it has been understood from a traditional and institutional perspective. It subsequently aims to analyse the “new” narratives surrounding decentralised cooperation and their impact on cooperation among local governments in the EU and CELAC.
The global geopolitical landscape is rapidly changing. The international order, traditionally based on multilateral cooperation and economic integration, is giving way to a more fragmented and competitive environment, marked by growing state intervention.
We are currently witnessing a form of international development cooperation that, in most states, is being openly incorporated as just another foreign policy instrument1, and which is also being affected by drastic cuts in funding.
This is compounded by the impact of humanitarian crises and conflicts, which are increasing in number, affecting an ever-growing number of regions around the world and lasting longer.
It is interesting to note that, as of today, many of the insights, dynamics and trends identified in the two previous conferences (Barcelona, 2022 and Bogotá, 2024) have either been confirmed or have deepened and accelerated. The 2022 conference underscored the need to rethink decentralised cooperation in a context of permacrisis and tension, arguing that the threats facing the world were greater than ever before.
