The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced on Tuesday 28 May that she had appointed Enrique Iglesias as Special Adviser for Venezuela.
This Spanish-Uruguayan economist has served as Secretary General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat, President of the Inter-American Development Bank and Foreign Minister of Uruguay.
Mr Iglesias, who has good contacts with both the Maduro camp and the opposition, will have the role of supporting the work of the EU, but also of the International Contact Group (ICG) in order to contribute to the promotion of a “peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis in Venezuela, through free and fair elections”, according to the European External Action Service statement.
Mr Iglesias will not have the task of conducting mediation, but will provide advice to the High Representative and the ICG on measures that could be taken to achieve these objectives and “will also engage in outreach efforts to relevant stakeholders in Venezuela and to international and regional actors”. One of the EU's objectives is to have a more united international community on the Venezuelan issue. It is also with this in mind that representatives of the International Contact Group and the Lima Group - a group of 14 American states - will meet in early June in New York in order to converge their points of view.
According to the EEAS, the appointment of the Special Adviser will allow for “a more sustained and strengthened political and diplomatic engagement on the situation in Venezuela” and is a follow-up to the discussions held in the framework of the International Contact Group.
This appointment also comes at a time when discussions are currently being held in Oslo between the opposition and the Nicolás Maduro regime under Norwegian mediation. The EU, which is not part of these discussions, but nevertheless supports this process, could have a role in implementing any future progress. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)