In a letter sent to Nicaragua's Foreign Minister Denis Moncada on Tuesday 17 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini calls for an end to the violence and says that the EU is ready to support Nicaragua's national dialogue.
The political situation in Nicaragua finally found a place on the European agenda at the EU-CELAC ministerial meeting (see EUROPE 12063). According to Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister Josep Borrell, on the first day of the meeting all the states "expressed great concern because things are not going better".
Mogherini went further, speaking directly to Moncada to ask him for "an immediate end to the violence, crackdown and arbitrary detentions" and for "fundamental freedoms to be respected". She also confirmed that the EU was "ready to accompany and support the dialogue", especially on the electoral reforms needed.
The statement from the European External Action Service says that the EU was asked to participate in the process following "the decision of all the participants in the national dialogue". The EU's request for intervention could have been made directly by the government of Nicaragua.
The EU has provided the country with €300,0000 of emergency aid to support access to pre-hospital healthcare and to support access to transport for the victims of violence while awaiting a peaceful solution. (Original version in French by Carmen García)