European External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson Peter Stano on Thursday refuted allegations by the Financial Times that High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell ignored the report of an EEAS exploratory mission to Caracas in July when deciding to deploy an EU election observation mission for the November local elections (see EUROPE 12802/14).
According to Mr Stano, this report is “only one aspect” of other subsequent elements that were taken into account in making this decision. He cited the resumption of negotiations between the Maduro regime and the political opposition, the opposition’s decision to participate in the Venezuelan local elections, the cancellation of restrictions on candidates, the signing of an agreement with the Venezuelan authorities guaranteeing that the EU mission would go ahead unhindered, and the request from Venezuelan civil society for such an election observation mission.
“If something changes, we can withdraw the mission” from the country, Mr Stano also argued. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)