The high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said this Thursday that the EU must be willing to use “all” necessary measures to support the people of Venezuela “in their democratic struggle.”
“The European Union has to be willing to use all our tools, all our diplomatic capacity, all measures to support the people of Venezuela in their democratic struggle,” said Borrell upon his arrival at the summit of European leaders being held today in Brussels.
The political crisis in Venezuela is one of the topics that the heads of State and Government will debate, at the request of Spain.
“The Council will discuss this, but rest assured that we will take all necessary measures. We are willing to take all necessary measures to support democracy in Venezuela,” Borrell stressed to the press.
The head of European diplomacy stressed that “from now until the moment in which (the current Venezuelan president, Nicolás) Maduro officially assumes the presidency (in January), we will insist on saying that there is no recognition without verification” of the results of the presidential elections last July in the Latin American country.
“If there is no verification of the electoral results, there is no recognition. Maduro will not be recognized as a democratically elected president (by the EU) if there is no verification of the results, and at the moment there is none,” Borrell said.
European leaders are expected to give their approval at this summit to some conclusions, the draft of which seen by EFE underlines that the European Council continues to be “extremely concerned” about the situation in Venezuela and the human rights violations reported after the presidential elections. on July 28.
“In Venezuela, repression continues. Opposition leaders had to go into exile or hide. And 2,000 people have been in prison. Harassment against the opposition continues,” Borrell said today.
In their conclusions, the Twenty-Seven are expected to urge the Venezuelan authorities to respect the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and put an end to violence, repression and harassment of the opposition and civil society, and to release political prisoners.
European leaders will reaffirm that “only complete and independently verifiable results will be accepted and recognized”, according to the draft conclusions, in which they will emphasize that the EU will continue to work with its regional partners to support the Venezuelan people in their democratic aspirations.
And it will be willing to support a constructive and inclusive transition with guarantees for both parties, to resolve the country’s political stagnation and restore democratic institutions peacefully.
Brussels / EFE
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