WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/00 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) and Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. European participation in the United States Plan Colombia.
Date: 2000-07-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Colombia, United States, aid policy, development plan, economic aid, fight against crime, narcotic, settlement of disputes

C 113 E/74

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

The Council has already several times had occasion to inform the European Parliament on the situation in
Colombia and on (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146), in particular at its session in April, in response to Oral Question QH/
300/00.

The European Union is closely following the situation in Colombia,
Government, civil society and the NGOs operating in the country.

in contact with the Colombian

Aware of the very serious consequences of the violent situation in the country, the Union has reaffirmed
its support for the Colombian Government to take the peace process forward. It attaches the greatest
importance to the real participation of civil society and all the parties to the conflict to promote national
reconciliation and the economic and social development of the country.

The Union supports the process of negotiations begun by the Colombian Government with the main
armed groups, and the efforts of the Government to open up dialogue on the peace process to civil
society, through broader consultation.

The European Union is aware of the serious problems Colombia is facing and considers that an integrated
approach is essential to resolve these problems, which are interdependent.

It is prepared to look at possible new forms of cooperation in fields such as the modernisation of the State,
the strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of
the environment, development of alternative crops and economic reform.

(2001/C 113 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL)
and Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 July 2000)

Subject: European participation in the United States (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146)

According to the British press (Guardian and Observer), on Monday 19 June 2000 during multilateral
consultations at the British Foreign Office, the United States asked European Union governments to make a
contribution of GBP 600 million to the (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146) already launched by the Clinton Administration
with funding of USD 1,6 billion and intended to provide military and economic assistance to the
Colombian government in its efforts to combat drugs trafficking. The plan, which includes the supply of
63 Blackhawk combat helicopters, armoured vehicles and other heavy weaponry to the armed forces in
Bogota, has caused deep concern both within and outside the US Congress in that, under the ostensible
pretext of eliminating drug trafficking, it threatens to end once and for all the peace negotiations with the
FARC and ELN guerrilla groups and turn Colombia into another Vietnam by exacerbating a civil conflict
which over the last 36 years has caused hundreds of deaths and more than a million refugees, with grave
repercussions for neighbouring countries such as Venezuela.

Does the Commission not think it should inform the European Parliament of the substance and

1.
outcome of the multilateral consultations held in London?

Does the Commission not believe it should dissociate the EU from the (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146), even if the

2.
contribution asked for was used to provide economic and humanitarian assistance?

Does the Commission not believe it should continue the autonomous and unconditional economic

3.
assistance it provides to Colombia, which already amounts to around € 5 million?

4.
Does the Commission not believe that this assistance should be strengthened and aimed in particular
at replacing coca and poppy crops with other crops guaranteed by business credit plans to promote the
economic and social success of agricultural conversion and thus eradicate drug trafficking?

18.4.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/75

Does the Commission not believe that it should intervene, as called for on various occasions by
5.
representatives of the guerrillas and civil society in Colombia during visits to European capitals (cid:129) to
mediate in an attempt to relaunch genuine peace negotiations and reach a non military solution to this
long and bloody conflict?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission and the Member States have expressed their full support for the Colombian peace-process
on various occasions. In relation to (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146), the European side has put emphasis on the need to
tackle the root causes of the current conflict, namely social inequalities, and absence of respect for the rule
of law.

At the 6/7 July meeting on the Colombian peace process, the Union showed unanimous support of the
Colombian government peace efforts. It also expressed its willingness to provide a concrete contribution to
the implementation of projects in some selected fields of activities. The Commission offered to co-ordinate
a Union package of aid and Spain pledged € 100 million. It is worth noting that the Parliament was duly
represented at the Madrid meeting.

Union aid to Colombia is not subject to any element of conditionality. The Union(cid:146)s support to displaced
people, more than one million victims of the civil war is particularly relevant. Thus, on an international
level, the Commission (via ECHO) is the principal donor of aid to the displaced people (€ 24 million since
1997).

As to the query of the Honourable Member concerning anti-drugs, the Commission acts according to the
principle of shared responsibility. The Commission has carried out various projects of alternative
development in Latin America. The Commission is willing to explore this possibility in Colombia, as
long as the sustainability of the action is ensured. Another useful instrument has been improving access of
Colombian products to the European market in order to facilitate the transition from illicit to legal crops,
through the special drug generalized system of preferences which is open to all Andean countries.

Last, the Colombian government has not to date requested any intervention from third parties to medicte
in the conflict.

(2001/C 113 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2230/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(5 July 2000)

Subject: Compensation for damage caused by natural disasters (earthquake) in the Emilia Romagna region

An earthquake registering 4,8 on the Richter scale struck the region of Emilia Romagna on 18 June, with
its epicentre in the plains of the province of Reggio Emilia, between the municipalities of Bagnolo in Piano
and Novellara.

Although no one was killed, the earthquake caused various damage to housing, buildings and churches.

Other powerful earthquakes had already struck the region of Emilia Romagna in 1996 and 1999 with
their epicentre in the Province of Reggio Emilia, causing considerable damage including the collapse of
housing and infrastructures, with many people losing their homes.