On 27 September, the Council of the EU suspended the application of EU restrictive measures against the 'Fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia' (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) known as the 'FARC'. This decision follows the official signing the previous day of the Colombia peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC (see EUROPE 11609).
This decision was taken unanimously by the member states and is valid for six months. It seeks to facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia. In spring 2017, the Council will again examine the question in light of the results of the FARC disarmament operation and could decide, in the event of positive developments, to withdraw the organisation permanently from the list of terrorist undertakings which has been subject to European Union sanctions.
The Colombians are now being requested to give their definitive approval to the peace agreement during a referendum on Sunday 2 October, which seeks to put a stop to 50 years of civil war.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced from Bratislava that she regretted she would be unable to take part in the informal defence ministers meeting (see other article) but stated that "an endorsement of the Agreement would send positive shockwaves through the continent and the entire world. It would send a message of reconciliation. It would send the powerful message that all conflicts can come to an end, when we all contribute to making peace possible". "My heart, and also part of my mind tonight, was actually in Cartagena [Colombia]", she added.
The European Union has raised €575 million to support peace initiatives in Colombia, including €90 million from a specially created trust fund (see EUROPE 11560). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion and Jan Kordys)