VP/HR — Crisis in Venezuela
25.2.2014
Question for written answer P-002167-14
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Crescenzio Rivellini (PPE)
The EU maintains political and economic relations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
On the basis of the economic dialogue between the EU and Venezuela, the latter benefits from the tariff reductions provided for by the scheme of generalised tariff preferences and trade agreements laid down in the economic association agreements and the programmes of aid for trade.
The EU is Venezuela’s largest international donor in the field of development cooperation: the Commission conducts bilateral cooperation through the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding and the 2011 instrument of association, thematic cooperation through funding directed at projects in the fields covered by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and regional cooperation that currently provides grants for forty projects.
Since 1998, DG ECHO has spent EUR 41 550 000 on aid and disaster prevention in Venezuela, as part of the programme of humanitarian aid to Latin America.
In view of the above, can the VP/HR say:
- — Beyond the public rhetoric, has she taken any practical measures on the use of force against civil society, the arrests of students and political opponents and the grave violations of freedom of expression, association and assembly by the public authorities in Venezuela? If so, which measures?
–Is she considering whether to suspend the trade facilitation measures, cooperation programmes and humanitarian aid mentioned above?
OJ C 355, 08/10/2014