Brussels, 24 February 2023
Between 26 February and 3 March, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and the Belgian Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal, Annelies Verlinden, will travel to Ecuador and Colombia.
This official visit aims at strengthening cooperation between the EU and key third countries in the global fight against drug trafficking, in line with the EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime. The threat posed by organised crime and related violence is affecting security in Europe, Colombia and Ecuador. Strengthened security cooperation with Latin America is crucial. Commissioner Johansson and Minister Verlinden will discuss with ministers and authorities of Colombia and Ecuador the need to step up joint efforts against criminal groups, including through law enforcement cooperation. They will also visit the Port of Guayaquil in Ecuador.
Commissioner Johansson will announce the EU’s commitment to finance a pilot project with Colombia to operationalise law enforcement cooperation and exchange of information with Europol. The discussions will also cover the prevention and fight against other forms of organised crime, such as trafficking in human beings, in line with the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025. The visit will also be on opportunity to discuss migration and mobility, in particular the support for Venezuelan refugees in both countries.
Source – EU Commission