During the IV Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU), held in Santa Marta, the French government announced an important gesture of cooperation with Colombia, with the return of eight pre-Columbian gold pieces belonging to the Málaga and Calima cultures, seized by French Customs in 2018.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, after a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, within the framework of the international event that brings together 60 delegations from both continents.
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According to the statement from the Colombian Foreign Ministry, The formal delivery of the archaeological pieces will take place in France before the end of the yearin a ceremony that will symbolize the joint commitment to the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.
“This gesture reaffirms bilateral cooperation in the protection of the heritage of nations and in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property,” the Foreign Ministry said in its official statement.
The meeting between Villavicencio and Barrot also served to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between both countries. The ministers celebrated the progress of the Puerto Antioquia Project, an initiative that has an investment of USD 770 million and whose construction is in the completion phase.
The French minister visited the work accompanied by the Colombian ministers of Commerce, Industry and Tourism; Environment and Sustainable Development; and Transportation, in addition to the Vice Minister of Labor. The port, located in Urabá Antioquia, is expected to move around 7 million tons annually.promoting the economic and logistical development of the region.
“The port reflects the impact of French investment in Colombia and its commitment to the sustainable development of the country,” highlighted the Foreign Ministry through its social networks.
During the meeting, The foreign ministers signed a letter of intent establishing the creation of a High Level Political Dialogue Committee on Comprehensive Rural Reforma space that seeks to strengthen France’s cooperation as a companion country of Chapter 1 of the 2016 Peace Agreement, focused on comprehensive rural reform.
This initiative, made official in November 2024, consolidates France’s active participation in peace and rural development efforts in Colombia, especially in areas affected by the armed conflict.
Besides, The arrival of a Colombian customs liaison officer to Paris was announced, who will strengthen collaboration between the customs authorities of both countries, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking and smuggling.
The IV CELAC–EU Summit marks a new chapter in relations between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. With the participation of 33 CELAC countries and 27 from the European Union, the meeting in Santa Marta seeks to redefine bi-regional cooperation around the so-called “triple transition”: energy, digital and environmental.
Despite the absence of some high-profile leaders, The summit brings together more than one billion inhabitants represented and bi-regional trade valued at more than 390 billion euros (USD 451.18 billion).
Among those attending were the prime ministers of Portugal, Finland, the Netherlands and Croatia, as well as the Caribbean leaders of Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
In an international context marked by geopolitical tensions and security challenges in the Caribbean, the summit seeks to project a renewed image of the relationship between both regions, with a focus on multilateralism, climate cooperation and inclusive development.
The return of the pre-Columbian gold pieces by France represents a victory for Colombian cultural heritage and a positive precedent in the restitution of archaeological assets to their countries of origin.
These pieces, belonging to the Málaga and Calima cultures, were seized in 2018 by the French customs authorities and since then Colombia had requested their repatriation.
The action is part of a global trend towards the restitution of plundered or trafficked cultural heritage, reaffirming the value of international cooperation and respect for the historical memory of peoples.
