Statement of Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC), Hearing of the House International Relations Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, November 18, 2004

Statement of Chairman Cass Ballenger,
Hearing of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
November 18, 2004

The Committee will come to order.

I will begin by offering my opening statement and then will allow the other members to present their opening statements. We will then watch a short video before moving onto our witnesses.

Today’s hearing will focus on the role our European allies are playing in the effort to eradicate drug trafficking and the associated terrorism in Colombia.

Although the British, and the Dutch in the Caribbean at least, continue to play critical roles in fighting the trafficking of illicit narcotics to the United States and Europe, we have seen little or no such cooperation from most of the other nations of Europe or the European Union.

In the year 2000, when U.S. contributions to Plan Colombia were being debated in Congress, it was clear that our government was willing to provide most of the required military aid to Colombia, while our European allies pledged similar funding, over $1 billion, to fund economic and social programs. Today, more than 90% of all military assistance to Colombia is fully provided by us. To date, most of the funding pledged by the Europeans has yet to materialize.

While the United States was sensitive to the European’s reluctance to provide Colombia with military assistance, we welcomed their pledged assistance to provide funding for the “soft side” of Plan Colombia. Money, pledged by the European Union was to support alternative crop programs, displaced persons projects, the resettlement of demobilized guerillas, opening new export markets, and other economic development programs. At the time, we were glad that Europe wanted to help. However, we expected more than mere words and a lot more than $120 million now given annually. This figure, I must note, is equal to what the United States is providing in Non-military assistance.

Why should Europe be concerned and care about Colombia? Why should stability and peace in the Andean region be of concern to Europe? The answer is simple, illicit narcotics. Illegal drugs from Colombia, especially cocaine, is now flooding communities of all sizes both here and in Europe. Millions of children and young adults, and their families, are being destroyed along with the futures of our nations. Keeping drugs out of our communities is the greatest challenge to our governments. But, no one government can do it alone. Stopping the flow of drugs from Colombia to the United States and Europe will take a concerted effort. I hate to say this, but the U.S., with the exceptions of Great Britain, is shouldering ths burden alone. Today, we hope to reinvigorate our allies and encourage them to act.

Let me give you a little background. Committee investigative staff reported earlier this month that as much as 50% of the cocaine from Colombia no longer comes to the United States. It now heads to places like Brazil, and more and more to Europe. According to some experts in the Drug Enforcement Administration, Europe which once viewed America’s cocaine and crack cocaine epidemic as simply a regional matter for us to deal with, now gets a “substantial” portion of Colombia’s deadly cocaine and it is accelerating rapidly.

Earlier this year, Italian authorities reported an 8 ton seizure of Colombian cocaine. Colombian National Police recently reported that a commercial airline flight from Jamaica to London had aboard 50 couriers moving Colombian cocaine to Europe. Spain, now seen as the gateway for Colombian cocaine to Europe, has witnessed a nearly 4 fold increase in seizures since 1996. In 2002, 16 countries in Europe reported abuse of crack cocaine. Colombia, it seems, is now their problem as well. The European/Colombian drug trafficking trend is clear, easy to see, and one, we all can clearly comprehend. Now we need a European response suited to this common challenge. At the donors conference scheduled for February 4th and 5th, 2005, in Cartagena, Colombia, the European Union and its member states, will be given the prime opportunity to make good on their promises, by providing the very assistance they pledged to Colombia in previous conferences. Our European allies, no longer have an excuse to stay on the sidelines. Stopping the flow of illegal drugs is vital to the collective interests of both hemispheres. Together we must help Colombia prevail for both the sake of our children and our communities, on both sides of the Atlantic.

Thank you.

Before I allow my colleagues to offer their opening statements, I want to take a few minutes to thank the members of this subcommittee for their hard work on behalf of our nation and the nations of the Western Hemisphere.

I particularly would like to thank Ranking member Bob Menendez. Bob, although we have disagreed on things from time to time, you have always been fair and willing to discuss matters calmly and openly. Your understanding of the issues, unwavering commitment to the region, and your dedication to doing what is right has made working with you a pleasure. I believe that our good working relationship has served our Congress and our constituents well. Thank you. Oh, and let me not forget to mention one other person. As you know, our staff makes us all look good. I want to recognize your staff director, Jessica Lewis, for her professionalism, hard work, and good humor in working with me and my own staff. Thank you Jessica. I also want to recognize Jessica’s predecessor, Pedro Pablo Permuy.
Finally, I cannot forget my long-time partner in crime, Bill Delahunt. Anytime you can get a liberal from Massachusetts, and a conservative from North Carolina to work well together, you have something special. Thank you Bill for your hard work. I wish you the best.

Mr. Menendez, your opening statement.

As of November 19, 2004, this document was also available online at http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations/108/bal111804.htm