For three days, 15 representatives of diplomatic delegations of the European Union (UE) were visiting the department of Caquetá. In total, officials attended – including ambassadors, heads of mission, among others – from Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Romania, Czechia, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Portugal and the EU.
It is already a tradition that the European delegates who have a diplomatic mission in Colombia once a year choose a territory of the country to celebrate the Europe Day, a date on which the community bloc commemorates the declaration of Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called on May 9, 1950 for the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which gave rise with time to what is known today as the European Union.
The agenda, which took place between May 6, 7 and 8, focused mainly on listening to communities and local governments. In dialogue with EL TIEMPO, the EU ambassador in Colombia, Gilles Bertrandrecounted the main concerns, but also the enormous opportunities that exist in the territories.
“This month we complete seven and a half years of the 15-year term that the agreement was drawn up. We also know that, in addition to this effort that we will continue to make, it is important to accompany the dialogues that have begun in the country,” said Bertrand.
During a symbolic act, the 16 mayors of the department of Caquetá signed their adhesion to the Global Compact of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
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Why is it important for you to leave Bogotá and spend three days in Caquetá celebrating Europe Day?
It is really a peculiarity of the presence of the European Union in Colombia because we have built a close relationship with many remote territories of the country. Part of our job is to leave Bogotá and continue maintaining those relationships of trust with the peasant, indigenous and Afro communities. What we seek is to continue working on productive projects, environmental conservation and peace. We operate from Bogotá, but we operate for a long time in the rest of the country. And not only do I do it, but also many of the European ambassadors who accompanied me on this trip to Caquetá.
It is already a tradition of ours to celebrate Europe Day outside of Bogotá with a trip of all the ambassadors in the country. This tradition reflects this commitment that we have with the regions of Colombia. What we always try to do is make those trips in territories that are emblematic of our relationship with Colombia, where we have done peace work, environmental protection, the fight against deforestation and where we do economic development work.
What is the reality that you see as ambassadors of what is happening in the territories?
Through the European Fund for Peace, the FARC left the territories. The great promise of the agreement is that the State was going to reach those places. However, the State has not arrived in a transformative way. We know that a lot has been budgeted and that the affected territories are aligned to provide education, health, justice, and improved roads. Now, what seems key to us is that this be implemented.
They tell us that they are seeing pressure from armed groups increase again
The reality that the territories tell us when we travel is that some have seen the benefits of the Agreement. Many say that between 2016 and 2019 they had moments of peace while armed groups were reconfiguring. But they also tell us that they are seeing pressure from armed groups increase again. Cable highlights that it has nothing in common with the hyperviolence of the 90s and 2000s, but it is a trend that we have to recognize and we want to accompany the Government’s efforts to reverse it while it is still a manageable issue.
How can you help in that process?
For us, the 2016 agreements remain the cornerstone of peace implementation, who is already halfway there. This month we complete seven and a half years of the 15-year term that the agreement was drawn up. We also know that, in addition to this effort that we will continue to make, it is important to accompany the dialogues that have begun in the country. Germany, Sweden and Spain accompany the part with the ELN. Ireland and the EU support that of the EMC. The EU also accompanies the processes in Quibdó and Buenaventura in the urban peace dialogues. The member states are doing a lot of work to surround these processes and bring those dynamics of change to the territories.
You said it. We’re halfway there. After these three days in Caquetá, what are the challenges that you perceive that the Colombian population has in terms of implementation of the Agreement?
There is a topic that occurs in Caquetá, but that illustrates very well what happens in other territories. The ceasefires have led to an improvement in direct confrontations between public forces and armed groups. What all the communities tell us is that this has to translate into an end to the effects of the populations. They They tell us that extortion has not decreased, and in certain areas it has increased. They also mention that the groups are strengthened during the cessation. It is worth mentioning that these groups began to strengthen before the ceasefires came into effect. For example, groups like the EMC began to strengthen since 2018 and 2019. In that sense, The populations ask that the terminations include that dimension of protection for the population. That is why there must be a verification and monitoring process.
First stage in Caquetá: Agua Bonita. Exemplary experience of reintegration and coexistence with other communities of La Montañita. He #TeamEurope 🇪🇺🇩🇪🇦🇹🇧🇪🇨🇿🇩🇰🇪🇦🇫🇮🇨🇵🇭🇺🇮🇪🇮🇹🇳🇱🇲🇨🇵🇹 🇷🇴🇸🇪 and his allies @ARNColombia @MisionONUCol @MAPPOEAalways next to the peace signatories. pic.twitter.com/2XoJEwaSzs
— Gilles Bertrand 🇪🇺🤝🏽🇨🇴 (@GBertrand_UE) May 7, 2024
What other factors?
Why are there companies that do not want to invest in certain sectors? Why are there communities that do not trust companies? There is also an issue of healing the past between peasant communities and large agro-industrial companies, for example.
Explain to us why Agua Bonita in Caquetá has been more successful than other Former Territorial Training and Reintegration Space (AETCR) in the country…
The other factor is that they chose a place that is close enough to Florence, which allows them to have access to markets to sell their products, although they have not been without challenges along the tertiary routes. However, there are other AETCRs that are sometimes six or eight hours away on uncovered roads to reach the nearest population center.
The other big announcement was that all the mayors that make up the municipalities of Caquetá joined the Global Compact of Mayors for Climate and Energy, an alliance supported by the EU to fight climate change. Why is this important?
In practice, the Global Compact gives access to some 13,000 municipalities in 144 countries to a world of local partners committed to the environment who have worked on this issue in their local government plans. This means that every time one of the municipalities of Caquetá wants to look for ideas on the best way to save water It has at its disposal a library of knowledge, experiments and technical assistance to define a successful environmental policy. This signing shows that local governments want to work together for the environment.
CARLOS JOSÉ REYES GARCÍA – INTERNATIONAL DEPUTY EDITOR – EL TIEMPO
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