European Union press release announcing aid for peace process, April 30, 2001

European Union press release announcing aid for peace process, April 30, 2001
Brussels, 30 April 2001
Commissioner Patten Announces Strong EU Support For Colombian Peace Process

The EU sends a strong signal of political support to President Pastrana's peace efforts and announces a European aid package of more than 330 million euros at the third meeting of the Support Group of the Peace-Process in Colombia in Brussels. Commissioner Patten called for peace to become a 'state policy' and called on the ELN to return to the negotiating table. He announced a European Commission contribution of 105 million euros with projects worth up to 43 million euros ("peace laboratories," human rights, relieve social impact) to be committed this year.

The third meeting of the Support Group of the Peace Process in Colombia, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Inter-American Development Bank, took place in Brussels on 30 April.

Commissioner Patten called for peace to become a "state policy," a priority which should last beyond election campaigns and recalled that peace was the most crucial responsibility for all those currently involved in Colombian politics, no matter factions or political parties. He also called for the ELN (Ejercito Liberación National), with whom so much progress had been achieved, to return to the negotiating table.

In his speech, the Commissioner said that the EU was offering the potential of the combined resources of the Community and its Member States: the diplomatic and political weight of fifteen nations; the economic influence of the world's biggest single market and foremost trading block; the expertise and funds of our long-standing development co-operation programmes. He expressed his hope that the Council of Ministers shall soon extend the special drug related GSP scheme, under which around 80 percent of Colombia's exports to the EU are exempt of custom duties.

On the issue of the fight against drugs, he said: "This is a domain where duty and self-interest of the international community go hand in hand: responsibility must be shared between producers and consumers. The drug problem must be addressed by a comprehensive and balanced approach. Manual eradication of illicit crops needs to be backed up by long-term alternative income-generating plans. And we should also address the social needs of the population."

In order to match its commitment made at the political level, the EU backs the Colombian peace process by financial support: the European Union presents today an overall EU support package to the Colombian peace process of more than 330 million euros.

Chris Patten confirmed an EC contribution of 140 million euros (105 million euros of programmable aid and 35 million euros of non-programmable aid). He announced that projects for up to 45 million euros funded by the European Commission would start this year:

-- Establishment of "Peace Laboratories" (this year, in the Magdalena Medio area to support the implementation of peace agreements, notably by fostering local institutions, civil actors promoting peace, economic and social development projects);

-- Combat violence and human rights violations;

-- Relieve the social impact of conflict (displaced people; children involved in conflict and alternative development in areas where manual eradication of drugs crops takes place).

As of May 2, 2001, this document was also available online at http://usinfo.state.gov/admin/011/lef103.htm