Eching municipal council ends climate partnership with Peru

The Eching municipal council has voted to terminate its climate partnership with the province of Urubamba in Peru. The decision, passed with a 13:8 majority, effectively ends the cooperation despite a recent visit from a Peruvian delegation in July 2026.

The partnership, which was officially established in March 2026, was part of the ‘Municipalities in One World’ program supported by Engagement Global and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The initiative was intended to build upon a long-standing town twinning relationship that has existed since 1994.

Proponents of the termination, including members of the Free Voters (Freie Wähler), argued that the municipality derives no clear benefit from the partnership and stated that the local government is not responsible for development aid. Concerns were also raised regarding the lack of agricultural overlap between the two regions and issues regarding corruption in Peru.