The Programme addressed the different aspects of the progress of Law of “Regional Development in Costa Rica” with the representatives of the Legislative Assembly and representatives of the Ministry of National Planning
The EUROsociAL Programme of the European Union, in its earlier phases, has supported the design, improvement and implementation of public policies that directly impact social cohesion in Latin America. All of this action takes place mainly in the sphere of executive officials, the people responsible for implementing these policies.
Legislative branches are an essential piece in the process of approving the policies proposed by executive branches. Therefore, EUROsociAL+ is aware of the importance of collaboration between the two branches for the effective development of Latin American democracies.
In this context, on 19 September, in the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, a working breakfast was held at which the Pedro Flores, the director of FIIAPP, which leads the EUROsociAL+ consortium, and the director of the EUROsociAL+ Programme, Juan Manuel Santomé, were able to address the different aspects of the progress of Law 19.959, “Regional Development in Costa Rica” with the representatives of the Special Joint Commission on Regional Development of the Legislative Assembly and representatives of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN). The event was also attended by the Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Spain, Enrique Conde León, and the Senior Advisor of the Embassy of France, Stéphane Toulet.
The European Union, by means of the EUROsociAL+ Programme, (through its Governance Area), supports Costa Rica in the transfer of know-how and the exchange of experiences with European and Latin American countries that have overcome their internal asymmetries with the help of regional development policies.
Within the framework of EUROsociAL, the Commission of the Legislative Assembly and MIDEPLAN jointly formulated the draft law on regional development. This aims to promote regional development in Costa Rica to improve the conditions and quality of life of the entire population, while respecting the cultural idiosyncrasies and leveraging their synergies and the potential of each region, in a context of democratic participation. It also seeks to gradually reduce regional imbalances through the design and implementation of differentiated and inclusive public policies.
At this event, both Pedro Flores and Juan Manuel Santomé recognised the work done in Costa Rica’s legislative and executive branches to make regional development a state policy, and reaffirmed that the support will be maintained to achieve this objective.
Área de políticas de gobernanza democrática. Democratic governance policies area / EUROsociAL+
