The Assises of Decentralised Cooperation for development represents a unique opportunity to bring together local and regional authorities' representatives from the EU and developing countries to exchange their views and hold a political dialogue with the European institutions on development cooperation. The ultimate aim is to contribute to reinforce development aid effectiveness towards the full integration of local and regional authorities into the development cooperation policies and to build a genuine EU partnership between the different actors active in the field of development.

The second edition of the Assises includes an opening session and five parallel thematic roundtables, on March 29, 2011 in the afternoon. The plenary session, will take place on March 30, 2011, in the morning and will bring together the "rapporteurs" of each roundtable to present the main conclusions of the discussions. This will be followed by an exchange of questions and answers session between the participants and high representatives of the EU institutions.

On the occasion of the Assises, three additional events will be held at the Committee of the Region in the framework of the activities of TER-RES (Territoires Responsables), Platforma and the Joint EU-Africa Strategy.