Five years after the conclusion of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC guerrillas (see EUROPE 11609/2), the European Parliament renewed its commitment to provide “all possible political and financial assistance” for the “comprehensive implementation” of the agreement, “cited as a model around the world”, on Thursday 29 April, by adopting a joint resolution of the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups.
“Peacemaking must go hand in hand with a genuine effort to combat inequality and poverty”, say MEPs, who condemn the violence against former combatants, social, and Indigenous rights activists.
In 2020, “133 social leaders and 73 former combatants” were murdered, said Javi López (S&D, Spain), citing UN figures. He called for further progress on transitional justice and land reform.
Parliament welcomes the granting of temporary protection in Colombia to 1.8 million Venezuelans who fled the Maduro regime. This was underlined by Leopoldo López Gil (EPP, Spain).
On behalf of the European Commission, Ylva Johansson expressed concern about the continuing violence perpetrated by illegal armed groups, “including the ELN and FARC dissidents”, involved in drug trafficking. She recalled that the EU is providing €648 million in assistance to the Colombian peace process, including through the €130-million EU Trust Fund.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3gOpcJ1 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)