Extension of the cooperation with the AMVA
| Subject: International Relations
The agreement with the Colombian metropolis is extended until 2023
On 20 July, the vice-president of the AMB Area for International Relations and Cooperation, Ernest Maragall, and the director of the Metropolitan Area of Valle de Aburrá (AMVA), in Medellín, Colombia, held a virtual meeting to officially extend the international cooperation agreement that will enable them to work together on environmental, mobility and territorial planning matters until 2023.
In 2016, the two public bodies entered into an international cooperation agreement that expired on 31 December 2019. It produced very positive results for both parties and enabled them to exchange knowledge, develop joint projects and organise study visits.
For this reason, both public bodies, which are members of networks like Metropolis (the global network of major cities and metropolitan areas) and ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), suggested extending the agreement until 31 December 2023. Consequently, the AMB and AMVA consider that the work carried out together over the next few years could be greatly beneficial for both of them. Ernest Maragall, vice-president of the AMB Area for International Relations and Cooperation, happily acknowledged that ‘the content of the agreement we are signing today is going to produce real work, useful work and work of maximum interest. It can act as a reference for other international relationships. It is an example of co-responsibility and shared management'.
Through this technical cooperation agreement, the parties undertake to support each other and foster the transfer of knowledge, exchange expert human capital, provide technical advice regarding the formulation and implementation of protocols, exchange information technology and develop joint projects. The most important matters covered by this agreement are:
- Metropolitan governance.
- Planning and management of sustainable mobility and transport.
- Air quality policies.
- Territory and public space management, with special attention on the green infrastructure, protected urban areas and biodiversity management.
- Urban and strategic planning.
- Housing.
- Social and economic development.
- Waste management.
- Internationalisation strategies.
- Smart territories, circular economy and innovation.
At present, both public authorities are working on a green infrastructure and biodiversity project, together with Mexico City.
