The High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, lamented on Monday 18 February the expulsion from Venezuela, the day before, of a mission of Christian Democrat MEPs invited by the self-appointed President Juan Guaidó.
Nevertheless, according to Ms Mogherini, "no voice" around the table of EU foreign ministers has asked for the work of the international contact group to be completed. On the contrary, it is "crucial" to have this diplomatic instrument at one's disposal, which makes it possible to discuss with "all stakeholders" in Venezuela and has as its "clear objective" to promote the emergence of conditions for the holding of new presidential elections, she added.
A delegation of experts from the international contact group, which met for the first time in Montevideo (see EUROPE 12190), is expected to be on site in Caracas this week.
Like the High Representative, the Spanish Minister, Josep Borrell, insisted on the rejection of any "foreign military intervention" to resolve the Venezuelan crisis. "The cure would be worse than the disease", he said.
Over the weekend, Venezuelan authorities loyal to Nicolás Maduro expelled a delegation of five EPP group MEPs - Dutch MEP Esther de Lange, Spanish MEP Esteban González Pons, Gabriel Mato and José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Portuguese MEP Paulo Rangel - who had travelled to Caracas at the invitation of the National Assembly chaired by Juan Guaidó.
"They confiscated our passports, they did not give us the reasons for this expulsion (...) They do not let President Guaidó meet foreign personalities," González Pons said on Twitter. He added, "When a dictator closes the windows and turns off the light, it means that he will move from words to deeds. Long live free Venezuela!"
In response to this expulsion, EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber of Germany asked Ms Mogherini and EU Foreign Ministers to break off diplomatic relations with representatives of the Maduro regime. Prompt to call for Mr Maduro's departure, the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, asked the European Council to take further "measures" against the regime. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)