Publication Name
Working Paper
Volume, number, page
W-2003/2
Year of Publication
2003
Organization Name
United Nations University - Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies
Acronym
UNU - CRIS
Publisher
UNU-CRIS
City
Brugge
Country of Publication
Belgium
Considered Countries
Colombia
United States
Category
Academic articles
Theme
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
Keyword(s)
European Union
Foreign Policy
Political Dialogue
Development Co-operation
Internal Conflicts
Armed Conflicts
Guerrilla
Drugs
Intervention
Abstract
Colombia has been suffering from internal violence for more than four decades. Drug- traffickers,
guerrillas and paramilitaries have deeply undermined the macroeconomic performances of the
country, in spite of its richness in natural resources. The internal conflict has also led to a state of
humanitarian emergency, which places Colombia among the most dangerous countries in the world.
This places the stability of the whole Andean region at stake, considering the potential new crises in
the neighbouring countries. Several interests of the European Union could be affected.
This situation has led the United States to intervene through military and economic assistance to the
Colombian government, aimed at blocking the flow of drugs at its source. More recently, the US
involvement has been also aimed at preventing the guerrillas from attacking the economic
infrastructures of the country, notably the oil pipelines. The US policies have raised a number of
questions and have been partially opposed by the European Union, which considers development cooperation
and political dialogue to be the only tools for stabilizing the country. However, the lowprofile
political involvement of the EU has not corresponded with the important initiatives undertaken
under the first pillar. Although the different perceptions of the member states over the Colombian crisis
have partially converged after 9/11, many problems still remain, preventing the Union from setting a
list of priorities and acting in accordance with them.
This paper tries to assess the EU’s performance in Colombia, and gives suggestions for a more
effective common European approach towards this “forgotten” crisis.
guerrillas and paramilitaries have deeply undermined the macroeconomic performances of the
country, in spite of its richness in natural resources. The internal conflict has also led to a state of
humanitarian emergency, which places Colombia among the most dangerous countries in the world.
This places the stability of the whole Andean region at stake, considering the potential new crises in
the neighbouring countries. Several interests of the European Union could be affected.
This situation has led the United States to intervene through military and economic assistance to the
Colombian government, aimed at blocking the flow of drugs at its source. More recently, the US
involvement has been also aimed at preventing the guerrillas from attacking the economic
infrastructures of the country, notably the oil pipelines. The US policies have raised a number of
questions and have been partially opposed by the European Union, which considers development cooperation
and political dialogue to be the only tools for stabilizing the country. However, the lowprofile
political involvement of the EU has not corresponded with the important initiatives undertaken
under the first pillar. Although the different perceptions of the member states over the Colombian crisis
have partially converged after 9/11, many problems still remain, preventing the Union from setting a
list of priorities and acting in accordance with them.
This paper tries to assess the EU’s performance in Colombia, and gives suggestions for a more
effective common European approach towards this “forgotten” crisis.