Colombia : EU Commission releases €1.5m for peace and reconciliation

Sommaire: Colombia : EU Commission releases €1.5m for peace and reconciliation (22 December 2005: Brussels)

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The European Commission will provide € 1.5 million under its Rapid Reaction Mechanism to follow-up on the 3 October 2005 Council Conclusions on Colombia. After the July 2005 enactment of the Justice and Peace Law, the EU Council confirmed the "readiness of the EU and its Member States to assist the Colombian governement and civil society in providing support for communities affected by the internal conflict, victims groups, local reconciliation activities and reinsertion and demobilisation of child soldiers". The European Commission will now support a number of measures to falicitate an effective and transparent implementation of the law and so contribute towards the consolidation of lasting prospects for peace.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy said: "With this package, we intend to help Colombia provide support for vulnerable groups and reconciliation activities. EU actions will range from awareness raising, legal advice to victims and support to the affected communities, part of a robust, longer-term programme for Peace and Development in Colombia."

The coming months will be critical to achieving sustainable peace in Colombia. The EU support can contribute significantly to an effective Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reinsertion (DDR) process that respects human rights and international humanitarian law and that takes into account the right of victims to truth, justice and reparation. The objectives of the assistance package, to be implemented through a number of partners such as local and international NGOs and international organisations, include:

Victims awareness raising; legal advice and support to victims and victims' groups wishing to bring to justice their cases under the current legal framework.
Formulation of a strategy for communities receiving demobilized combatants.
Support for the design of a comprehensive national reconciliation strategy.

Background

Colombia has been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict, involving guerilla insurgencies (FARC-ELN), the State military and police forces, paramilitaries (AUC) and drug cartels whose actions have resulted in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Following a ceasefire declaration and peace talks between the AUC and the Government, the AUC promised to lay down their weapons by end of 2005. However, the international community has made its support conditional to the demobilisation of AUC combatants, and the adoption of an appropriate legislative framework, respecting international humanitarian and human rights laws and guaranteeing truth, justice and reparation for victims.

On 25 July 2005, the "Justice and Peace law" (Law 975) was adopted, adding a new element to the already existing legal framework that addresses demobilisation and reinsertion of illegal armed groups.

On 3 October 2005, the EU Council adopted Council conclusions stating that "if the new law is effectively and transparently implemented it would make a positive contribution to the search of peace in Colombia". The Council stressed the readiness of the EU and its Member States to provide assistance to Colombia in supporting communities affected by the internal conflict, victims' groups, local reconciliation activities and demobilisation of child soldiers.

EU cooperation towards Colombia between 2001 and 2006 amounts to €270 million of non reimbursable aid. EU aid is fostering peace and development as a way to pursue EU's engagement to contribute to the search for a peaceful solution to the Colombian conflict.

For more information on the EU's relations with Colombia:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/colombia/intro/index.htm

Ref: EC05-444EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 22/12/2005

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