[{"bbox": [158, 152, 1074, 207], "category": "Text", "text": "these structural challenges are not addressed, there is little hope of ending the decades-long conflict that has plagued the country."}, {"bbox": [158, 218, 1074, 431], "category": "Text", "text": "Another important issue to consider is that Colombia remains the largest producer of cocaine in the world, and 2021 was a record year for production. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that 204,000 hectares (504,095 acres) were dedicated to coca cultivation in 2021. Production has been trending upwards since 2012 but coca prices began dropping in early 2022, particularly in the areas covered under this proposal. As a result of this situation, the main coca-producing regions in the country are facing an economic fallout that could result in a worsening of the humanitarian and security situation – but also opens opportunities for reconversion into licit activities and crops."}, {"bbox": [158, 442, 1074, 682], "category": "Text", "text": "Colombia also continues to face challenges related to the rule of law (corruption, impunity) and governance (low electoral participation, coercion and patronage, organised crime), especially in rural areas where the scarce of the State adversely affects democracy and the delivery of public services. Illegal economic activities such as coca cultivation, illegal logging and mining, stem from the lack of alternative economic opportunities in conflict-affected areas, where the State presence is weak, and the presence of illegal armed groups is prevalent. These activities along with extensive livestock contribute to deforestation and contamination of water sources. Issues such as rural reform and sustainable use of natural resources remain at the heart of any credible long-term solution for Colombia's development."}, {"bbox": [158, 693, 1074, 879], "category": "Text", "text": "The six-point Peace Agreement signed in 2016 with the extinct FARC-EP commits the State to implementing an Integrated Rural Reform, enhancing political participation, eradicating illicit drugs, recognising victims' rights and setting an implementation, verification, and validation mechanism of the Agreement. The Peace Agreement has prioritised 170 municipalities (representing 36% of the national territory, 27% of the rural population and 57% of the population living in poverty) for implementing Development Plans with a Territorial Approach (Planes de Desarrollo con Enfoque Territorial -PDETs)."}, {"bbox": [158, 892, 1074, 1184], "category": "Text", "text": "President Gustavo Petro came to power in August 2022 as the country's first leftist leader. He succeeded in building a broad (but fragile) majority in Congress, allowing him to pass landmark laws such as a tax reform, a new electoral code, the recognition of Colombia's peasantry (campesinado) as subjects of constitutional rights, and a National Development Plan 2022-2026. However, the Petro administration has not managed to secure support for other key pieces of legislation that are crucial for its flagship 'Total Peace' policy. In spite of temporary ceasefires with the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) and the EMC (Estado Mayor Central, FARC dissidences), violence against communities and especially human rights defenders remains rampant in rural areas. The Human Rights Ombudsperson's Office reported 182 killings of human rights defenders between January and October 2022¹³. For President Petro's 'Total Peace' policy to deliver on expectations, it will need continued political and financial support from the international community."}, {"bbox": [158, 1195, 1074, 1461], "category": "Text", "text": "President Petro's political priorities (peace, environment and social justice) are in line with the priorities of the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027 and the two Team Europe Initiatives: Peace and Environment. The \"EU-Colombia Memorandum of Understanding on an Agenda of enhanced political and sectoral dialogue and cooperation for the next decade\" signed in September 2021 opens the perspective for the negotiation of a comprehensive legally binding agreement (Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, PCA), complementing the existing Trade Agreement. Negotiations on the PCA were formally launched in December 2023, culminating a year of unprecedented intensity of high-level engagement in the lead up to the EU-LAC Summit, with a high number of high-level official visits including by HR/VP Borrell, EVPs Timmermans and Vestager, VP Schinas, and Commissioners Johansson and Sinkevičius."}, {"bbox": [147, 1587, 710, 1615], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹³ World Report 2023: Colombia | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)"}, {"bbox": [966, 1655, 1082, 1682], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 35"}]