On Monday President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño signed in Cartagena de Indias a peace deal ending the 50-year long Colombian conflict, which has killed over 220,000 people. The High Representative's Special Envoy for Colombia, Eamon Gilmore, attended the signing ceremony together with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders from the Americas.

“The European Union was on the side of the Colombian people during the negotiations and we actively supported the talks,” Mogherini said in a video message. “In like manner, we will be on their side during the implementation of the peace deal.”

European measures to support the implementation of the agreement will include an economic package of 575 million euros, mostly channelled through a Trust Fund.

Colombia's peace agreement will have to be ratified by the country's citizens in a referendum, scheduled on 2 October. The ratification of the deal “would send a positive message through (the American) continent and the entire world,” Mogherini commented. “It would send a message of reconciliation. It would send the message that all conflicts can come to an end, when we all contribute to making peace possible.”