EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/422

(2004/C 88 E/0429)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2620/03

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject: Human rights abuses in Colombia

In the context of recent civilian killings by paramilitary forces in Colombia, in particular those of Rosemary Serrano Rojas and Jorge Ivan Carvajal Angarita, who were taken from their home in Cucuta and murdered in front of their four-year-old son, and the pressure placed by these paramilitaries on the government not to investigate their crimes, what action is the Commission taking in Colombia to encourage the President to withdraw such paramilitary groups? In addition, what action is the Commission taking to ensure that crimes committed by these paramilitaries are brought to justice?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2003)

The Commission has repeatedly expressed its concern with respect to the situation of human rights in Colombia, and urged the Colombian Government to increase its efforts in these areas and take effective action against impunity and collusion between paramilitary groups and members of the public forces. The Commission supports the recommendations made by the Bogotá office of the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner (UNHRHC) on these issues, as well as the observations made by the same institution on 28 August 2003 on the bill ‘on the reincorporating of members of illegal armed groups’ sent by the Colombian Government to the Colombian Congress on 21 August 2003.

The fight against impunity is one of the priorities of the financial and technical co-operation between the Commission and the Colombian Government. EUR 10,5 million has been earmarked for the reform of the justice sector in the indicative multi-annual programming of the relevant budget line (B7-310), with an emphasis on the fight against impunity. The corresponding programme should be developed in the course of 2004.

The fight against human rights abuses is also dealt with through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR, budget line B7-701), for which Colombia is a focus country. 19 projects are running or about to start, at a total amount of EUR 14 810 844, involving 19 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), seven European NGOs, two universities, and the Bogotá office of the UNHRHC. This includes a micro-projects program with an annual allocation of EUR 500 000, designed to strengthen the local civil society, whose main lines make reference to pacific conflict prevention and resolution as well as to providing support and assistance to the victims of human rights violations due to the conflict.

The United Self-defence of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries were also added to the so-called ‘Union terrorist list’ on 2 May 2002 (following a Commission proposal (1), the Council adopted on 27 December 2001 Common Position 2001/931/CFSP (2) and Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 (3) listing the persons, groups and entities whose funds and financial resources are frozen, in line with Resolution 1373(2001) of the United Nations Security Council).

(1) OJ C 332 E, 27.11.2001.

(2) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 of 27 December 2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism, OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.