The EU is preparing a coordinated response along with a range of actions to encourage the authorities of Venezuela to discuss a way out of the crisis with the opposition, following the election of the Venezuelan constituent assembly on 30 July that was marred by bloody violence, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) stated on Tuesday 2 August.
The EEAS spokesperson confirmed that consultations were being held in Brussels on Wednesday between diplomats of the EU's 28 member states and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in order "to enable an appropriate and coordinated response from the EU", ahead of the Venezuelan constituent assembly being set up. The European diplomats were on Wednesday working on a joint statement.
"A whole range of actions is being discussed, but our priority is to come to the help of the Venezuelan people and obtain a de-escalation in tension. We promote a political solution to the crisis and we are ready to support the regional mediation efforts more", the EEAS spokesperson stated.
While the Spanish foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, called on Tuesday 1 August for individual sanctions "able to affect those responsible for the current situation", the EU's response was not at that stage expected to threaten the regime of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro with sanctions, as this option did not enjoy the unanimity of the 28 member states.
On Tuesday, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani asked European Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker about "the possibility of freezing the assets and imposing a travel ban to the EU for the members of the Venezuelan government, including its president, Nicolas Maduro, and its entourage".
Tajani also criticised the arrests on Tuesday of two leaders of Venezuela's opposition – the founder of the Voluntad Popular party ('Popular Will', right), Leopoldo Lopez, and the mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma – and he also condemned "the constant violation of human rights [and] the brutal repression exerted by the government".
Describing the elections as "illegitimate" and Maduro as a "dictator", the USA announced unprecedented legal sanctions against a head of state on Monday 31 July, with a freeze by the US Treasury of all the assets Maduro possesses in the USA. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)