Brussels, 25/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Council of the European Union announced on Thursday 25 February the expulsion of the Venezuelan Ambassador, Claudia Salerno Caldera, in response to Venezuela's decision, the day before, to expel the EU Ambassador in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa. The EU describes the Venezuelan decision as “totally unjustified” and as leading “only to Venezuela's further isolation”. The decision taken by President Nicolas Maduro’s regime is a direct consequence of the EU’s recent decision to sanction 19 new Venezuelan dignitaries for hampering the search to find a solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean country. In July 2020, the Maduro regime had not implemented an identical threat (see EUROPE 12519/37). (MB)