The European Union will maintain “targeted engagement” with the current Venezuelan authorities with the aim of fostering a democratic transition in Venezuela, said Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), on Tuesday 6 January.
“Even though we have not recognised the legitimacy of President Maduro and the same for Delcy Rodríguez as such, we will maintain targeted engagement with the Venezuelan authorities to safeguard our own interests and uphold our own principles”, said Ms Hipper.
Former vice-president and oil minister, Delcy Rodríguez was appointed interim President of Venezuela following the removal of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, who was kidnapped by the US armed forces and is now imprisoned in New York with his wife (see EUROPE 13779/4).
Unlike Mr Maduro himself, the Caribbean country’s new leader has, since 2018, been subject to European sanctions of a freeze on assets and a ban on travel to the European Union. The question arises as to whether the EU can maintain contact with persons subject to restrictive measures.
Ms Hipper did not comment on the sanctions, refusing to prejudge any decision which, in this area, must be taken unanimously by the Member States in the EU Council.
In mid-December, the EU renewed the sanctions that currently target 69 dignitaries of the Maduro regime until 10 January 2027 (see EUROPE 13773/36).
The EEAS spokeswoman reiterated the position of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs – supported by all Member States except Hungary – that “the future of Venezuela should be precisely shaped to an inclusive dialogue leading to a democratic transition and hence include (...) figures of the democratically elected opposition”, including Edmundo González, an unsuccessful candidate in the July 2024 presidential elections, and Marina Corina Machado. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)