Debate on the Colombian peace process during the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Luis de GRANDES PASCUAL (EPP, ES), Ramon JAUREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE) and Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (ALDE, ES).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Colombia (T)

BILBAO BARANDICA, Izaskun (Renew, ES)

JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Ramón (S&D, ES)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

DEMESMAEKER, Mark (ECR, BE)

de GRANDES PASCUAL, Luis (EPP, ES)

Colombian peace process: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, <p>These are very important times for Colombia and let me say for once, among many difficult situations around us and far away, this is a place in the world where we have signs of hope and change.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Just a few months ago I decided to appoint Eamon GILMORE as my special envoy&eacute; for the peace process. To demonstrate to strengthen the EU's active commitment to it, and let me say that I was particularly glad that this decision was taken with the full support of President SANTOS. Eamon GILMORE's direct involvement in the peace Process in northern Ireland and his political experience,  made him an ideal candidate.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, <p>The Havanna negotiation is not over yet. We are talking about a process that is still ongoing. important issues still need to be addressed, just to quote a number of them: the modalities for a definite cease-fire and its verification, the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants, the arrangements for guaranteeing their physical security, and how to implement the agreement. Still, I am confident that the negotiation can be concluded, not only, but it can be concluded rapidly.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, My colleague, Neven MIMICA and I have been working together to set up a EU Trust Fund, which will pool contributions from the EU Budget and from willing Member States. We are already seeing contributions coming in. We are currently finalising the preparatory work for this trust fund in close contact with interested Member States, and as I said there is a growing interest around this.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis de GRANDES PASCUAL (EPP, ES), We have a very pluralistic and varied parliament and we have been able to get the major seven groups on line with this resolution and we will be garnering a huge majority for the resolution which enshrines the values that we feel are the proper ones at this point in time. I think that Colombia's behaviour now is something which warrants said support.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ram&#243;n J&#193;UREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), If you look at everything that happened in Colombia, well that's what we've done and the EP now supports this because we have a unanimous position and we unanimously decided here in the EP to undertake this peace process.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE), In the ECR resolution, we call on the parties to clarify the uncertainties regarding transitional justice and restoration and compensation for the victims, and the Colombian peace process must not stop here, the factor of paramilitary militias, those chapters must be closed as well.There needs to be a demobilisation and reintegration programme extended to the militias as well, because they are still fighting against the FARC and government troops, and these cancers in the fabric must also be dealt with.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (ALDE, ES), I hope that this resolution goes in the same direction, because it certifies the support of the EP to Colombia and its citizens. A support that is based on the respect of its decisions, the recognition of its achievements and the condemnation of violence as a political tool, in an express application of international justice destined to avoid impunity of the crimes of humanity.