Germany – Italian cooperation on display in Cologne

A photography exhibition, co-promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) in Cologne and Magnum Photos and Contrasto, illustrates Italian Cooperation’s activities and achievements. The exhibition runs until 26 August at the IIC and is open to the public Monday to Friday, between 9 -13 and 14-17. Italian Cooperation was set up in the 50s and developed a set of projects for countries with close historical ties to Italy. Italy then developed more systematic cooperation to contribute to international efforts to alleviate world poverty and help developing countries strengthen their institutions. In a period characterised by new humanitarian emergencies, Italian cooperation has become an increasingly important element in Italy’s foreign policy, in line with action to maintain peace and manage migration flows. Law 125/2014 , “Disciplina Generale sulla cooperazione internazionale per lo sviluppo” (General Rules on International Development Cooperation), which came into force on 29 August 2014, defines cooperation as “an integral and qualifying part of the country’s foreign policy”. The establishment of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is one of the main pillars of the new law. The Agency, which already exists in the main European countries, meets the need strongly affirmed by all those taking part and enshrined in the proposals issued by parliament.