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AL-LAS is the European-Latin American cooperation alliance between cities that aims to improve their international relations, optimizing their public policies and territorial development. The project was co-financed with the support of the European Union, within the framework of the thematic programme Non-State Actors and Local Entities in Development, receiving contributions from cities that form part of the network.

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The Government of Mexico City acted as project coordinator, formalizing the support of the European Commission through Europe Aid, and working hand in hand with other participating cities. The Mayor of Mexico City and the EU Ambassador to Mexico signed the AL-LAs agreement in 2014. Each member city of the AL-LAs Consortium leads a specific activity of the project, seeking to provoke administrative, legal, and institutional changes that increase the professionalization of municipal services and promote internationalization actions.

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Project AL-LAs fills a gap in the generation of knowledge and institutional coordination in the area of international and subnational relations in Mexico. This gap gave rise to a project that was quickly recognized as a useful and effective tool to accompany the internationalization of states and municipalities.

AL-LAs signed a collaboration agreement in 2015 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico with the objective of developing projects and actions of mutual interest related to participation in joint action schemes for the strengthening of bilateral relations through the internationalization of cities. Under the leadership of the Government of Mexico City, the cities of Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, and the Government of the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil; the cities of Lima, Madrid, Medellín, Montevideo, Paris, and Quito joined AL-LAs, as well as the European networks of the United Cities of France and the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity in Spain. Other agencies involved were the Mexican Association of State International Affairs Offices (AMAIE), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Association responsible for international relations of local governments in France (ARRICOD), El Rosario University of Bogotá, and the French Institute of Latin America (IFAL).

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Cities associated with the AL-LAS project

The general objective of Project AL-LAs is to strengthen the international relations of local governments in Latin America, while expanding their networks and alliances to improve the quality of their public policies and territorial development. Among the specific objectives:

  • Strengthen the institutional capacity of local authorities in Latin America to establish professional public policies in international relations and work in a coordinated network

  • Develop strategic plans for participatory internationalization and stakeholders’ agreement mechanisms for international cooperation

  • Support decentralized cooperation projects in three areas: sustainability, social inclusion, and territorial attractiveness

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Allies of the AL-LAS Project

One of the outstanding results of AL-LAs is the publication of work booklets in support of the internationalization of cities. This network has had a great impact on cooperation between EU and LatAm cities, both at the level of founding cities that participated from the beginning, as well as large cities such as Paris, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro that joined over time.

This network has had a great impact on cooperation between EU-LatAm cities, both at the level of the founding cities that participated from the beginning, and large cities such as Paris, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro that joined over time.

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Examples of AL-LAs publications jointly developed by participating cities

The following stakeholders benefit from Project AL-LAs:

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  • Local communities and residents who have access to better city services

  • Public employees and local government officials who increase their professionalization in international relations

  • Universities, companies, chambers of tourism, industry and commerce, cultural organizations, students, and artistic groups, through the exchange of information, use cases and best practices

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