On Tuesday 12 December, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, reiterated that the EU was ready to review its sanctions against the Maduro regime, which have been extended for 6 months until May 2024 (see EUROPE 13291/36), if further progress is made towards holding presidential elections that meet democratic standards.
Unfortunately, the “encouraging step” linked to the Barbados agreement (see EUROPE 13274/24) “has been overshadowed by recent worrying developments”, Mr Borrell regretted during a debate in the plenary session of the European Parliament. He cited the Supreme Court’s annulment of the opposition primaries won by María Machado, “the numerous arrest warrants” for Machado’s Vente Venezuela party and the recent imprisonment of the president of the NGO Súmate.
The High Representative reiterated, however, that the EU was prepared to consider sending an election observation mission to the presidential elections in the second half of 2024, if the political conditions were met and, in particular, if the participation of the opposition was guaranteed.
Essequibo. Finally, Mr Borrell advocated “dialogue” to find “a peaceful solution” to the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. Caracas is laying claim to the oil-rich Essequibo region. “Escalating tensions could endanger the stability of the region”, warned the High Representative.
The Venezuelan and Guyanese presidents are meeting this Thursday in the Caribbean archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to try to defuse the conflict, in the presence of the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)