Member States' ambassadors to the European Union (Coreper) approved on Wednesday 25 September new European sanctions against seven security officials guilty of torture and human rights violations against demonstrators opposed to the Maduro regime.
This decision, which will be formally endorsed at a successive ministerial meeting, cements the threats made by the EU last July in light of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet (see EUROPE 12297/6), and also answers to the European Parliament's request (see EUROPE 12298/13).
It brings to 25 the number of people covered by a travel ban and assets freeze in the EU until mid-November (see EUROPE 12131/33).
However, Coreper reportedly postponed the adoption of a specific declaration.
With Norway-mediated talks between the Maduro regime and the political opposition stalled, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced the holding of an international conference on the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela next 28 and 29 October in Brussels (see EUROPE 12334/23).
The European Union has never recognised the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro's second presidential mandate and supports his political opponent, the self-proclaimed President Juan Guaído. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)