EUROsociAL is technical cooperation initiative of the European Commission to support social cohesion in Latin America through the sharing of experiences between public administrations responsible for the administration of Justice, Education, Employment, Taxation and Health. The objective is to strengthen institutional capabilities in management of public policies within these sectors to transform them into authentic vectors of social cohesion.

Social cohesion, along with regional integration, constitutes one of the principal axes of strategic relationship between the European Union and Latin America.  During the IV Sommet UE- Amérique latine et Caraïbes  (4th EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit) which was held in Vienna in May 2006, the EUROsociAL Programme received political support from all the Heads of State and Government on both continents.  Its goal is to play a central part, over the medium- term, in the relationship between both regions.

The European Commission proposed to "make social cohesion the main theme for its aide and cooperation for development policy (2007-2013 Programming)" with Latin America.

EUROsociAL is the practical materialization of this political will. Execution of the Programme, which will be carried out in the second quarter of 2009, was confided to five consortiums made up of European, Latin American and multilateral government entities.

EUROsociAL is an initiative open to all the Latin American institutions that desire to participate in the public and institutional reform process, and who have as their fundamental objective to reinforce protection and social cohesion in their region.

The European Commission established a budget of 36,7 million euros for four years. The Programme is 80 % financed by the European Union and 20% by various institutions that make up the consortiums which were retained following an invitation for proposals.

Social Cohesion: One Possible Definition

Social cohesion is a vision shared between citizens and the government with regards to a model of society based on social justice, rule of law and solidarity. This shared vision enables a consensus to be established with regards to the allocation of government expenditures between various sectors, generations and territories, financing of social services, taxation, safety, transition and social protection programmes, as well as job creation. The protection and transition systems that characterize social cohesion allow problems of poverty and unequal distribution of wealth to be addresses with the greatest chances of success.

Organizations Participating in the Programme

In May 2005, the Commission selected four consortiums charged with the implementation of four of five sectors of the Programme (Education, Health, Employment, Justice and Taxation) over a period of 4 years and confided the general coordination of the Programme to the FIIAPP in Spain. The employment sector was confided to the International Labour Organization (ILO), seeing as its implementation could not be articulated by a consortium. 
 

Programme coordination is ensured by an Inter-sectorial Committee that is comprised of four leading consortiums, along with the ILO, and is presided by the FIIAPP.

The Joint Committee constitutes the highest authority for the Programme and is comprised of representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the European Commission.