On the situation in Colombia after the wave of recent terrorist attacks

B100378/2025

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Colombia after the wave of recent terrorist attacks

(2025/2855(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Colombia, in particular that of 29 April 2021 on the fifth anniversary of the Peace Agreement in Colombia,

–having regard to the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 26 June 2012, and the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Colombia on the short-stay visa waiver, signed on 2 December 2015,

–having regard to the remarks by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at the European Parliament plenary session of 17 June 2025 on the assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe and the threat to the democratic process and peace in Colombia,

–having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service following the death of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay in Colombia on 11 August 2025,

–having regard to the statement of 12 August 2025 by the Bureau of the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean community (DAND) on the recent wave of political violence in Colombia, including the murder of Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay,

–having regard to the statements of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on Colombia, in particular of 15 August 2025, condemning the assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay in Colombia and calling on the State to guarantee the safety of political leaders,

–having regard to the Final report of the EU electoral observation mission for the legislative and presidential elections in 2022,

–having regard to the International Committee of the Red Cross’s report on Colombia of July 2025,

–having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas on 7 June 2025, Colombian Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot three times while carrying out political activities in the Modelia neighbourhood of Bogotá; whereas on 11 August 2025 he died as a result of the injuries sustained during the armed attack; whereas Senator Uribe was one of the strongest critics of Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro;

B.whereas the Colombian authorities arrested the alleged perpetrator, along with five other individuals linked to the execution of the crime; whereas the 15-year-old boy who admitted shooting the Senator was sentenced to seven years’ detention at a youth rehabilitation facility on 27 August 2025; whereas the masterminds behind, and the motives for, the crime remain unknown;

C.whereas on 21 August 2025 the explosive attack on a military base in Cali and the downing of a police helicopter in Antioquia left at least 19 dead and dozens injured, acts described as terrorist attacks by the Colombian authorities, who blamed dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); whereas in Antioquia several police officers were conducting a coca eradication operation when they were attacked;

D.whereas in June 2025 several attacks with explosives believed to be targeting the police in Cali and other towns in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca departments left at least 7 dead and 28 injured;

E.whereas the ongoing violence in Colombia continues to also affect political parties, human rights defenders, journalists and social leaders, among others; whereas the current wave of violence is affecting more people across a wider and growing range of locations than in previous phases of the armed conflict;

F.whereas, despite the 2016 peace agreement, there is currently an alarming escalation of violence and terrorist attacks that are closely linked to dissident factions of the FARC-EP, the ELN, the Gulf Clan and organised criminal groups associated with drug trafficking and smuggling, who are fighting over territory abandoned by FARC;

G.whereas President Petro’s policy of negotiating simultaneously with multiple illegal groups under the ‘total peace strategy’ has helped both dissident groups and organised crime groups to gain territory and power in areas with a historically limited state presence; whereas under his presidency public order and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated significantly, including in conflict-affected regions, with increased rates of forced displacement, confinement, child recruitment and massacres;

H.whereas according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 1.45 million people were affected by violence in Colombia during the first half of 2025, four times as many as during the same period in 2024; whereas international humanitarian law is being violated, exacerbating the damage and suffering caused, and weakening the affected communities;

I.whereas military data show that there were 108 drone attacks in Colombia in 2024, while 118 have been reported so far this year; whereas the drones are used both to drop explosives and to monitor army troops and drug shipment areas;

J.whereas the assassination of Senator Uribe, the wave of terrorist attacks in southwestern departments and the increasing number of deadly incidents involving security forces have created a strong perception that the run-up to the 2026 election will be marked by intense polarisation, fragmentation and strong attempts at political interference;

K.whereas the Colombian Government’s proposed cut to the budget of the Ombudsperson’s Office will have a direct impact on the protection of human rights in the country as violence increases and critical elections approach;

L.whereas the EU and Parliament have been very supportive of the 2016 peace process in Colombia; whereas the EU has reaffirmed its political and financial commitment to the Colombian peace process, and continues to monitor its implementation;

M.whereas on 11 June 2025 negotiations for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Colombia were launched, following the mandate received from the Council in 2023; whereas the planned agreement will deepen bilateral cooperation in several areas, including the fight against organised crime, and the protection of democracy against disinformation, hate speech and political violence;

1.Strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Colombia, the assassination of Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay and the killings of, and violence against, political actors, public figures, human rights defenders, journalists, social leaders and security forces; expresses its condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, and to the people of Colombia;

2.Calls on the Colombian authorities to make every effort to swiftly identify and bring to justice all the perpetrators and instigators of the attacks that caused the death of Senator Uribe and the suffering of those affected by the escalation of violence in Colombia;

3.Urges the Colombian authorities to identify the motives and all factors behind the worrying escalation of violence and the terrorist attacks, continue to address the underlying causes of the conflict, ensure the full protection of human rights throughout Colombia, and build a culture of peace and dialogue for conflict resolution;

4.Reminds the Colombian authorities of the urgent need to protect political actors, public figures, human rights defenders, journalists and all citizens exercising their democratic rights, and calls for immediate measures to be taken to strengthen their protection;

5.Expresses its concern at the persistence of impunity and obstacles to accessing justice in cases of serious human rights violations and abuses; stresses that fighting impunity is key to preventing a recurrence of criminal acts and terrorist attacks, and to guaranteeing the full exercise of political rights;

6.Expresses its concern at the proposed cut to the budget of the Ombudsperson’s office and reiterates that these funds are crucial to protect human rights;

7.Is extremely worried by the high degree of political polarisation; calls on all political and public actors in the country to prioritise dialogue and to reject political polarisation and hate speech, including by subscribing to the call of the Ombudsperson’s office for a free and peaceful electoral process in Colombia;

8.Warns of the danger of a further increase in violence and terrorist attacks ahead of the 2026 elections, with growing polarisation and institutional tensions that may further undermine public trust in governing institutions; calls on the Colombian authorities to take all necessary measures to create a safe and non-violent environment for free and fair elections;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the rotating Presidency of the EU, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the Government and Congress of Colombia.