14/05/24 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 13 May, the European Union decided to extend until Friday 10 January 2025 the European sanctions targeting Venezuelan personalities and entities supporting Nicolás Maduro’s regime. With a view to promoting the holding of free and credible presidential elections in Venezuela on 28 July (see EUROPE 13404/22), it has nonetheless withdrawn four executives of the National Electoral Council (CNE), including its chairman, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, from the list of those sanctioned. “The EU has made a gesture” towards the Venezuelan authorities, said Peter Stano, spokesman for the European External Action Service, on Tuesday 14 May. As long as the EU maintains its “policy of hostility” towards our country, no sincere or productive dialogue will be possible, criticised Mr Hidrobo Amoroso, quoted by the daily El Pais. See the decision of the EU Council: https://aeur.eu/f/c7h (MB)