“The EU’s policy vis-à-vis Venezuela remains unchanged: the conditions are not currently there for a free, fair and democratic electoral process to take place”, said the European External Action Service (EEAS) in a press release published on the evening of Wednesday, 30 September.
This statement comes at the end of two European diplomats’ mission, based on a mandate from the International Contact Group, in Caracas last week during which they met representatives from the Maduro regime, from the political opposition—including Mr Guaidó, the president of the National Assembly—as well as from the Church and the private sector (see EUROPE 12568/17).
During this mission, the possibility of postponing the legislative elections, currently scheduled for 6 December, for a few months so as to allow time for dialogue and political developments in Venezuela was discussed.
“Without a postponement and an improvement in the democratic and electoral conditions, the EU cannot consider sending an electoral observation mission”, reiterated the EEAS.
On Wednesday, 30 September, Member States’ ambassadors to the EU approved the modification of the grounds for listing 22 leaders from the Maduro regime as currently subject to EU sanctions (see EUROPE 12516/28). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)