On Thursday 28 March, the European Parliament called for “additional sanctions” from the European Union aimed at “illegal assets held abroad by public authorities and persons responsible for human rights violations and repression”, in Venezuela, in a resolution prepared by the EPP, ALDE and ECR groups and inspired by an initial text by the Christian Democrats (see EUROPE 12222/25).
The text, which MEPs adopted by a comfortable majority (310 votes in favour, 120 against, 152 abstentions), reaffirms the Parliament's support for the self-proclaimed President Juan Guaidó, whom it considers legitimate, to put an end to the “usurpation” of power by Nicolás Maduro by organising new, credible, presidential elections.
The EU does not recognise Mr Maduro's second term as President and a large majority of Member States have recognised the legitimacy of Mr Guaidó, the current President of the Venezuelan National Assembly.
MEPs stress the importance of finding a “peaceful solution” to the Venezuelan political and humanitarian crisis. The only amendment adopted among the seven tabled by the S&D group alone considers that any strategy advocating military intervention in Venezuela would only lead to an escalation in the country and would have “devastating effects on the region”.
International contact group. In addition, the Parliament deplores the “lack of concrete results” achieved so far by the International Contact Group on Venezuela, in which several Member States (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom) and Latin American countries (Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay) participate (see EUROPE 12196/7). It asked this group to cooperate with the Lima group, which it said was a “regional leader”. The S&D group criticised the position taken by right-wingers in the Parliament as “stupid” and “irresponsible”.
The contact group, which is involved in finding a political solution to the crisis and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, met for the second time at ministerial level on Thursday 28 March in Quito.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Valencia, considered that the creation of this group was a sign of “international and regional solidarity” in the search for a political solution that would be led by the Venezuelans themselves.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, welcomed Ecuador's reception of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have fled their country. Rejecting any use of “force”, she highlighted the group's “useful” work as the only body with access to all stakeholders at the highest political level, and which is trying to build “bridges” for a peaceful political solution.
Finally, MEPs reaffirmed their support for the International Criminal Court to open an “investigation following preliminary investigations into crimes committed by the illegal regime of Nicolás Maduro, some of which constitute serious crimes against humanity”. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)