On Wednesday 22 August, an EU spokesperson told EUROPE that no decision had yet been taken concerning the adoption of targeted sanctions against the Maldives.
The previous day, in an interview with EP Today, MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP, Czech Republic) announced that 41 names were on the list of measures to be taken against the Maldives. He implied that these sanctions could be adopted after the presidential elections, the first round of which is to be held on 23 September.
"The European Union’s position regarding the situation in Maldives was defined jointly by all 28 member states through the Council conclusions adopted in February (see EUROPE 11969), which have been followed by the framework for targeted restrictive measures adopted in July", the spokesperson said (see EUROPE 12063). "Any follow-up decisions in this light are the prerogative of the Council of the European Union and have so far not been taken", the spokesperson added.
The Maldives ambassador to the EU, Ahmed Shiaan, is meanwhile reported to have told state media he did not know that such a list had been drawn up.
The EU spokesperson said that members of the European Parliament Tomáš Zdechovský, Maria Gabriela Zoană (S&D, Romania), and Ryzsard Czarnecki (ECR, Poland), together with the former president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Henri Malosse and EESC member Madi Sharma, were recently visiting the Maldives "in their private – not official – capacity". When there, they made numerous statements about the political situation and the upcoming elections.
According to Shiaan, the government of the Maldives was not aware of their trip. He accused the Europeans of breaking the Maldives' visa rules.
According to the EU spokesperson, the European External Action Service continues to monitor the situation closely "in the lead up to the presidential elections" and "takes note of prevailing allegations and decisions that may negatively affect voter confidence". "It is crucial that the pre-electoral environment is transparent and conducive for credible and inclusive elections", the spokesperson stated. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)