On Tuesday 17 October in Barbados, the European Union, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom welcomed the “political agreement” between the Maduro regime and the Venezuelan opposition, which constitutes a “necessary step” in the continuation of a process that should lead to the holding of credible presidential elections in the second half of 2024 and, in fine, to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.
“We continue to call for the unconditional release of all those unjustly detained, the independence of the electoral process and judicial institutions, freedom of expression including for members of the press, and respect for human and political rights”, the EU and the other countries stress in their joint statement.
According to AP, the agreement reached in Barbados provides for the lifting of the ineligibility of opposition figures, including María Corina Machado (see EUROPE 13214/21), and the sending of an EU electoral observation mission (EOM). On Wednesday 18 October, France said it was ready to implement the proposal for an EOM.
Asked by EUROPE whether this agreement might pave the way for the lifting of European sanctions, a possibility already raised in July by the French President, Emmanuel Macron (see EUROPE 13225/2), the spokesman for the European External Action Service, Peter Stano, felt that such a debate was “premature” at this stage. We must first see tangible actions, such as “the release of all detainees” and full respect for human rights, he stressed. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)