The European Union (EU) proposes an agreement similar to that of Colombia for Ecuador, while it will reinforce controls in ports against drug trafficking.
Ylva Johansson, Minister of the Interior of the European Commission.
The European Commission hopes to sign “quickly” an agreement for cooperation with Ecuador in the framework of the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime networks, said the European head of the Interior, Ylva Johansson.
The commissioner explained, at a press conference during the presentation of the European Ports Alliance, that the EU has a cooperation agreement with Colombia to help combat drug trafficking and that it has also begun to negotiate the same type of pacts with Ecuador. Brazil, Mexico and Peru.
In order to carry out joint investigations and exchange information, “an agreement is needed, and we have one with Colombia,” Johansson said on January 24, 2024.
He specified that a “center for police cooperation” will now be launched with that same country.
The agreements with Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico and Peru began to be negotiated during a visit that took place to those countries last year, he said.
Johansson also spoke of his visit last spring to the port of Guayaquil, “which is the main exit route for drugs from Latin America” and said that it was agreed with the Ecuadorian authorities that the EU will send a team to carry out a risk assessment on the port, based on the experience gained last year.
He added that Brussels will support Ecuador to “find loopholes and close them.”
The Belgian Minister of the Interior pointed out that Belgium, which through its port in Antwerp has become the main entry route for cocaine into Europe, has signed agreements for collaboration with Colombia and Ecuador and is carrying out action plans. within the framework of those memoranda.
Likewise, he also said that a meeting is planned in Bolivia in February, within the framework of cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.
