The European Union (EU) was set up after the Second World War. For more than twenty years the EU has supported Colombia in its aim to peacebuilding.

Two special programs: Peace Laboratories (2002-2012) and New Peace Territories (2012-2017), show how methodological transfers and capacity building activities could contribute to conflict-affected territories’ peaceful and sustainable development.

This broad experience is capitalized by the European Trust Fund for Peace in Colombia as an effective mechanism to respond to the government of Colombia’s request for assistance and channel the resources in a structured and efficient way. Furthermore, the Fund demonstrates the solidarity and political support of the EU for this important peace process and also promotes the general interests of the European Union as a whole. The EUTF is made up of 20 countries and all of them work towards the same goal: to promote the generation of scale economies and accomplishing this to reach the utmost impact with efficiency and visibility of the European Union on the territory.

The EU has extensive experience in rural development, land restitution and local productive development, and the Fund´s objective is to support Colombia on comprehensive rural development in the territories most affected by the conflict, enhance economic and productive activities, strengthen state presence, rebuild the social fabric of communities and support the social and economic reincorporation of ex-combatants.