European Union advocates reducing coca cultivation in Bolivia to 22,000 hectares

The European Union (EU) advocated this Tuesday for coca production in Bolivia to be reduced to 22,000 hectaresas established by the law enacted by the MAS Government in March 2017.

The representative of that instance in the country, Michael Dóczy, during the presentation of the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC for its acronym in English), expressed concern about the four percent growth between the 2020 and 2021 administrations.

“Bad news, since 2019 the area of ​​coca cultivation has been increasing and that has not changedUnfortunately, this trend continues, but at a significantly slower pace, especially taking into account the regional context and the global context,” he said.

He recalled that the international organization finances the monitoring of plantations and has been supporting the State since 2008, with more than 100 million dollars, destined to the fight against organized crime.

“We hope that Bolivia changes this trend and meets the objectives that have been self-imposed in its national policy, I would like to remember that maximum figure of 22,000 hectares”, remarked the ambassador.

He stressed that the EU is currently the largest international donor that Bolivia has and recalled that in December of the last administration, two agreements were signed for 50 million dollars, destined to support national policy through various projects.

It urged the Government to continue its efforts to promote comprehensive development and regretted the expansion of crops in protected areas, especially vulnerable and sensitive in the context of climate change.