Cooperation agreements
The Region signs specific cooperation agreements with foreign States, Regions and local authorities.
For negotiations and related authorisation procedures, the International Relations Office collaborates with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the Department for Regional Affairs of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, as well as with diplomatic representations around the world.
The Emilia-Romagna Region has signed formal cooperation agreements with the following European Regions:
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine (F), Cooperation Agreement, first signed in 2010. Renewed in 2019 and in 2022. Validity: 3 years. All sectors
- Pays de la Loire (F), Cooperation Protocol, 1991, renewed in 1995. Unlimited validity. Sectors: culture, research, youth mobility, economy
- Land Hessen (D), Memorandum of Understanding, 1992. Unlimited validity. Sectors: culture, research, youth mobility, economy, science, trade, industry, environment, education and social affairs
- Generalitat Valenciana (E), Memorandum of Understanding, 1992. Unlimited validity. All sectors.
- Generalitat de Catalunya (E), Cooperation Agreement, 2022. Validity: 4 years. Sectors: innovation, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, higher education, universities and scientific research in relation to business orientation and smart specialisation strategies.
With many other Regions and local authorities, there are relations which are not formalised, but which generate many different initiatives and projects, also within the framework of European and international projects.
Outside Europe, the Emilia-Romagna Region has signed Memoranda of Understanding concerning several sectors with the Guangdong Province, the Shandong Province (PRC) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (USA).
With some of the partner Regions and States (California, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Land Hessen, Pennsylvania, Guangdong, Gauteng), the Emilia-Romagna Region signed the Declaration “Regions for Global Sustainable Development” on 14 June 2019 in Bologna.
Agreements with States
- Republic of San Marino
General Agreement and Operational Protocols on Health Care and Social Services and Agreement on Waste - Federative Republic of Brazil
General Agreement in the Field of Cooperatives and SMEs