EUROsociAL is a programme of the European Commission for cooperation between Europe and Latin America. Its objective is to contribute to changes in public policies that improve social cohesion through peer-to-peer learning and experience exchanges between counterpart institutions in the two regions.  

The first phase of the programme (2005-2010) arose in the context of the LAC-EU Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Guadalajara in 2005, at which the importance of social cohesion as a priority element in the bi-regional strategic partnership was explicitly manifested. EUROsociAL I contributed to the formulation of new public policies, to the introduction of innovations within the framework of existing policies, and to strengthening the institutional capacities of the government agencies responsible for these policies. The first phase also supported the establishment of very important international commitments from the perspective of social cohesion and demonstrated the relevance of peer-to-peer exchange as an institutional cooperation tool. 

The second phase of the programme (2011-2015) lent continuity to this ambitious policy mandate of promoting social cohesion, which has been renewed in successive summits. It incorporates recommendations and orientations based on the lessons learnt in the previous phase to guarantee the linkage between the instrument (experience exchanges) and its objective (social cohesion). It does so by ensuring that the exchanges are not limited solely to sharing knowledge but instead become transformational learning experiences that materialise in action oriented towards bringing about a change in public policy which will eventually contribute to improving social cohesion. 

• What does EUROsociAL aspire to?

Contribute to the design, reform and/or implementation of public policies which will have an impact on social cohesion in Latin America. 

• How does it work?

In this sense, EUROsociAL works as a facilitator, placing at the disposition of institutions immersed in these processes knowledge of analogous experiences in other Latin American countries, as well as European ones, that can contribute innovative elements in these reforms. 

• What tools does it use?

Peer-to-peer collaborative work and consulting between Latin American and European institutions.