Pino Arlacchi, rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Development. − Madam President, we are going to vote on a good agreement. Colombia and Peru are two democracies which in recent times have made great improvements in almost all areas, even in the most controversial one, which is human rights. Most of the extreme criticism against Colombia and Peru is unjustified and is made by people who do not know the changes which have occurred in these countries, not because there are no violations of human rights – they still occur – but they are a fraction of what was occurring 15 to 20 years ago.

Both countries show very positive trends. Colombia 15 years ago was one of the most violent countries in the world, plagued by a staggering number of homicides, afflicted by drug cartels and blatant terrorism. It is not so anymore. Drug cartels exist only in newspapers, killings have been reduced by 80 %, terrorism is at a historical minimum and poverty has been significantly reduced in both countries. Colombia and Peru are following the virtuous path of their continent. They are emancipating themselves from the big brother of the north and they deserve all our support and cooperation.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))