Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

137. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is proposing to ensure that there is a formal and clear mechanism for Colombian civil society involvement in the decision-making process of the allocation of the €3 million his Department has contributed to the EU trust fund for the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia. [21767/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to ensure that the peasant reserve zones in Colombia are properly considered by the seven-EU-member-state committee that is allocating EU funds which are ring-fenced for equitable access to land in national protected areas. [21768/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

139. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the EU-member-state committee that is deciding where and how to allocate the EU trust fund for the implementation of peace in Colombia to ensure that proper vigilance is followed to guarantee that the fund is well spent. [21769/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together.

Ireland will contribute €3 million to the European Union Trust Fund for Colombia, which will be formally established as soon as a final peace agreement is signed between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrilla group.

The Fund will support the implementation of the peace agreement and Ireland has been closely involved in discussion of its governance structures and strategic direction. In this context, Ireland has advocated a strong human rights and gender perspective in the Fund’s strategic plan, as well as a focus on the most vulnerable conflict-affected communities in Colombia.

Ireland’s contribution of €3 million guarantees it full voting rights in the governance structures of the Fund, which will consist of an Operational Committee based in Bogotá and a Trust Fund Board, based in Brussels. Irish officials will participate in both governance bodies and will be fully involved, along with representatives of the European Commission and other contributing Member States, in decision-making on the actions supported by the Fund during its five year term.

The Trust Fund foresees provision of funding through a range of implementing partners including civil society organisations and prioritizes support for civil society participation in decision-making at local and national level in post-conflict Colombia.

The Fund also prioritizes improving land tenure with a view to ensuring equitable access to land, along with programmes to support rural development and strengthen the cooperative system of farmer and producer organisations. There will be a particular focus on ensuring that the rights of marginalised communities such as peasants, indigenous groups and the Afro-Colombian community are respected and supported.

Civil society organisations in Bogotá were briefed by the European Union Delegation on 28 June on how the mechanisms for engagement with the fund will work. This consultation with civil society will continue on a regular basis. In addition, it is planned to develop a consultation mechanism between national institutions and the regional and local level (including civil society) to promote a bottom up approach to local economic development.

Regarding vigilance over Trust Fund expenditure, both the Fund and the actions financed by it will be subject to the monitoring and evaluation rules applicable to all EU external aid programmes with a view to ensuring economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The Constitutive Agreement of the Fund provides for strong audit and control oversight by the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Commission’s internal auditor and the Court of Auditors. The Fund’s annual accounts will be submitted to the Operational Committee, on which Ireland will be represented, for its approval.

Ireland has provided more than €5 million since 2009 to international and local civil society organizations in Colombia and, through our Embassy in Mexico, maintains an ongoing dialogue with Colombian civil society on development and human rights priorities, as do many other EU Member States based in Bogotá. Ireland, along with other EU partners, will bring these perspectives to discussions in the Operational Committee and Trust Fund Board.