VP/HR — The situation in Venezuela
24.8.2017
Question for written answer E-005268-17
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marietje Schaake (ALDE) , Matthijs van Miltenburg (ALDE) , Hilde Vautmans (ALDE) , Frédérique Ries (ALDE) , Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE) , Pavel Telička (ALDE) , Brian Hayes (PPE) , Charles Tannock (ECR) , Alessia Maria Mosca (S&D) , Monica Macovei (ECR) , Gesine Meissner (ALDE) , Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL) , Michał Boni (PPE) , Charles Goerens (ALDE) , Dita Charanzová (ALDE) , Cecilia Wikström (ALDE) , Carlos Coelho (PPE) , Patricia Lalonde (ALDE) , Anna Elżbieta Fotyga (ECR) , Brando Benifei (S&D) , Liliana Rodrigues (S&D) , Adam Szejnfeld (PPE) , Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE) , Enrique Calvet Chambon (ALDE)
On 1 August 2017, the leaders of the Venezuelan opposition, Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma, were taken from their homes by police forces while under house arrest[1]. These arrests further fuel tensions in Venezuela, where plans to introduce a constituent assembly with virtually unchecked powers led to months of unrest and protests, culminating in violent clashes and the deaths of as many as 14 people on election day. In the light of the statement of the VP/HR’s spokesperson of 31 July 2017, the following questions remain:
- 1.Has the VP/HR been in contact with the foreign affairs ministers of all EU Member States about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, and have (individual) sanctions been considered?
- 2.Can the VP/HR provide an indication of the financial value of the assets, properties and bank accounts held by President Maduro and members of his regime within the Member States?
- 3.Is the VP/HR aware of the sanctions imposed on Venezuelan officials by the US and will she discuss the setting up of targeted EU sanctions against President Maduro and members of his government with the Member States at the earliest possible opportunity? What effect will recent events have on EU financial aid to Venezuela?
- [1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/01/venezuela-opposition-leaders-leopoldo-lopez-antonio-ledezma-taken-from-homes-say-relatives