Brussels, 03/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Colombia will be able to look forward to receiving €55.4 million from the EU to support the recently adopted national policy for land restitution and rural development, and the process of peace building and security, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced in Colombia on Thursday 3 November at the end of his four-day visit (31 October-3 November). Five development cooperation financing agreements between the EU and Colombia will be signed shortly.
“The European Union supports President Juan Manuel Santos' peace programme”, AFP quotes Piebalgs as telling the Colombian press on Thursday.
As well as meeting President Santos, the commissioner also met Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin and members of the Colombian parliament, and also representatives of the civil society organisations which manage development and humanitarian aid programmes. On the ground, he visited several projects that the EU co-funds, including the Peace Building and Economic Opportunities Project in the city of Cartagena in La Popa district. This project has already helped 248 families and set up some 200 small businesses, as well as funding training.
The Commission has a budget of €320 for the period from 2007 to 2013 to support initiatives in the areas of peace building and alternative development, justice and human rights, humanitarian aid, as well as productivity and competitive business in Colombia. (AN/transl.rt)