WRITTEN QUESTION E-1221/01 by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. EU aid to Colombia.
Date: 2001-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Colombia, EU aid, Member States' contribution, United Kingdom, establishment of peace, the EU's international role

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/65

The period of consultation with staff and staff representatives on this and associated documents will end in
the near future and the Commission will then adopt its policy, taking account of the constructive
suggestions for development of policy that have been submitted. It is to be hoped that, where changes in
the Staff Regulations are needed in order to ensure modernisation and improvement in policy, the support
of the other Institutions, including Parliament, will be forthcoming.

(1) SEC(98) 1559/2.
(2) SEC(2000) 2084/4.

(2001/C 364 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1221/01

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: EU aid to Colombia

Can the Commission confirm that an assistance package worth € 105 million is being granted to
Colombia by the European Union?

Can the Commission also indicate the UK(cid:146)s share of this package?

Will the European aid be kept wholly separate from any other aid packages, such as the USA(cid:146)s Plan
Colombia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2001)

The Union expressed its full political support for the peace process carried out under the aegis of President
Pastrana. As a consequence, the Union is playing an increasing role in the support for the peace process
and has decided to complement its efforts with a significant amount of aid.

The Community financial support package, as announced on 30 April 2001 at the recent third meeting of
the Support Group for the peace process in Colombia, amounts to more than € 330 million. Several
Member States have already announced generous contributions to this overall package. The actual
contribution of the United Kingdom is not known to the Commission.

At the 30 April meeting, the Member of the Commission responsible for External Relations confirmed
a Community contribution of € 140 million (€ 105 million of programmable aid and € 35 million of non-
programmable aid) and announced that commitments of up to € 43 million will be made this year by the
Commission.

The Community assistance strategy has four fundamental strands aiming to:

(cid:129) establish (cid:145)Peace Laboratories(cid:146) (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);

(cid:129) address structural weaknesses (justice, land reform, environment);

(cid:129) combat violence and human rights violations;

(cid:129) 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 to whether the Union(cid:146)s package will be kept separate from (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146), the Commission would like
to re-iterate its position: the Union(cid:146)s reservations about some aspects of the Plan Colombia are well known
to President Pastrana and to his Government. Furthermore, the Commission does not intend to take part in
any initiative with a military dimension.