Foreign Relations of Colombia - Europe

Europe

Under the Uribe administration, Colombia's relations with the European Union (EU) have been cordial. Representatives of the EU have been critical of Colombia's antiguerrilla and antidrug strategies in several respects. The EU is particularly concerned about the potential for increased human rights abuses within Colombia at the hands of both government forces and illegal armed groups, and it has continued to distance itself from Plan Colombia. The EU is in favor of a negotiated solution to the nation's internal conflict. EU aid to Colombia has mainly consisted of social, economic and development investments.

In 2004, the EU as an entity did not offer unrestricted support for the Uribe government's peace initiative with paramilitaries, citing concerns over the possible lack of a credible and comprehensive peace strategy and its application, but it did approve 2 million USD in aid for the process. Individual EU members such Sweden, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands also provided limited support on their own.

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Austria 1920 See Austria–Colombia relations
  • Austrian honorary consulates existed in Bogotá and Barranquilla since about 1870.
  • Austria has an embassy in Bogotá and 5 honorary consulates (in Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Medellín and San Andrés).
  • Colombia has an embassy in Vienna.
  • In February/March 1980, Austrian Ambassador Edgar Selzer was held hostage in the Dominican embassy siege in Bogotá.
  • Austria Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties (in German only)
Belgium
  • Belgium has an embassy in Bogotá
  • Colombia has an embassy in Brussels
Czech Republic
  • Colombia is represented in the Czech Republic through its embassy in Vienna.( Austria).
  • The Czech Republic has an embassy in Bogotá and 3 consulates (in Barranquilla, Cartagena and Medellín).
  • The first connections between Czech lands and the area of current Colombia occurred in the times of colonial era, during missionary activities of Jesuits in that area. In 1860/1870s the Czech botanist Benedikt Roezl discovered the cycad plant Zamia roezlii on the Pacific coast in Colombia. The plant is named after him. In 1922 began the consulary activities between Czechoslovakia and Colombia. Since 1926 the Colombian consul had his seat in Prague. In 1935 both countries agreed to interchange the ambassadors.
  • In 2008, during his visit in Colombia, the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek negotiated a possible sale of the combat aircrafts Aero L-159 Alca with Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.
  • (English) (Spanish) Colombia-Czech Chamber of Commerce
  • (Czech) Bilateral treaties between Colombia and the Czech Republic from 1973 to 2009
  • (Czech) CZ PRES agency opens its activity in Colombia
  • (Czech) Detailed information about cooperation between Colombia and the Czech Republic at BusinessInfo.cz
Denmark
  • Colombia is represented in Denmark through its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden).
  • Denmark has 1 consulate in Bogotá.
France 1892-05-30 See Colombia–France relations

Officially the relations between Colombian and France began on May 30, 1892 with the signature of an agreement intended to establish French nationals in Colombia, increase commerce and navigation between the two nations.
Greece
  • Colombia is represented in Greece through its embassy in Rome, it has an honorary consulate in Athens.
  • Greece is represented in Colombia through its embassy in Caracas, it has two honorary conuslate (Bogotá and Cartagena).
Ireland See Colombia–Ireland relations
  • Colombia is represented in Ireland through its embassy in London, United Kingdom.
  • Ireland is represented in Colombia through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico and an honorary consulate in Bogotá.
Italy
  • Colombia has an embassy in Rome and a general consulate in Milan.
  • Italy has an embassy in Bogotá and 4 honorary consulates (in Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena and Medellín).
  • Both countries are full members of the Latin Union.
Kosovo

Colombia recognized Kosovo on August 6, 2008.
Montenegro

Colombia recognized Montenegro on September, 30 2006 and established diplomatic relations on August 12, 2011.
Russia 1935 See Colombia–Russia relations
  • Colombia has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Bogotá.
Spain
  • Colombia has an embassy in Madrid; consulates-general in Barcelona and Seville and consulates in Bilbao, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.
  • Spain has an embassy in Bogota and a consulate-general in Cartagena.
United Kingdom
  • Colombia has an embassy in London.
  • The United Kingdom has an embassy in Bogotá and 3 honorary consulates (in Cali, Cartagena and Medellín).
  • See also Colombians in the United Kingdom
  • British Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the relation with Colombia

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