Refusal of VP/HR to meet with the 2017 Sakharov Prize laureates

19.12.2017

Question for written answer E-007864-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Javier Nart (ALDE) , Carolina Punset (ALDE) , María Teresa Giménez Barbat (ALDE) , Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE) , Anna Elżbieta Fotyga (ECR) , Hilde Vautmans (ALDE) , Mara Bizzotto (ENF) , Ivan Štefanec (PPE) , Eduard Kukan (PPE) , Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE) , Yana Toom (ALDE) , Monica Macovei (ECR)

The Venezuelan opposition, as laureates of the 2017 Sakharov Prize, were present in Strasbourg for the awards ceremony, during the plenary session of December 2017.

Naturally, they were received and greeted by various several representatives of the European institutions, including President Tajani as well as various group leaders.

It has come to our attention however that the VP/HR refused to meet them and delegated this meeting to her chief of staff instead.

We believe this is intolerable for both the European Parliament, which awards the prize, and for the Venezuelan opposition.

Is the Commission aware of this fact? What image does the Commission believe this lack of deference will project about the European institutions to the external world?