Motion for a resolution - B8-0225/2019Motion for a resolution
B8-0225/2019

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the emergency situation in Venezuela

25.3.2019 - (2019/2628(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Esteban González Pons, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez‑Neyra, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Cristian Dan Preda, David McAllister, Sandra Kalniete, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Paulo Rangel, Nuno Melo, Gabriel Mato, José Inácio Faria, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Francisco José Millán Mon, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Lorenzo Cesa, Ivan Štefanec, Eduard Kukan, Tunne Kelam, Manolis Kefalogiannis, Julia Pitera, Fernando Ruason behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0225/2019

Procedure : 2019/2628(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B8-0225/2019
Texts tabled :
B8-0225/2019
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B8‑0225/2019

European Parliament resolution on the emergency situation in Venezuela

(2019/2628(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela, in particular those of 3 May 2018 on the presidential elections in Venezuela[1], of 5 July 2018 on the migration crisis and humanitarian situation in Venezuela and its borders[2] and of 25 October 2018[3] and 31 January 2019 on the situation in Venezuela[4], the latter of which recognises Mr Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela,

–  having regard to the declarations by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on Venezuela of 10 January 2019, 26 January 2019 and 24 February 2019,

–  having regard to the Organisation of American States (OAS) member states’ joint statement on Venezuela of 24 January 2019,

–  having regard to the statement of the Lima Group of 25 February 2019,

–  having regard to the statement on Venezuela of 25 January 2019 by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,

–  having regard to the Venezuelan Constitution, and in particular Article 233 thereof,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Venezuela is facing a profound and unprecedented political, economic, institutional, social and multidimensional humanitarian crisis, shortages of medicines and food, a situation of massive human rights violations, hyperinflation, political oppression, corruption and violence; whereas living conditions have seriously deteriorated and 87 % of the population are now living in poverty; whereas 78 % of children in Venezuela are at risk of malnutrition; whereas 31 of every 1 000 children die before the age of 5;

B.  whereas on 23 February 2019 the humanitarian aid stored in Colombia and Brazil was fiercely rejected and in some cases destroyed by Maduro’s de facto regime using military and paramilitary forces; whereas the repression resulted in several people being killed, dozens injured and hundreds arrested; whereas Venezuelan military operations represent a risk for the stability of the region, and in particular for the territory of neighbouring Colombia;

C.  whereas a massive power outage left much of Venezuela without electricity for more than 100 hours, aggravating the already dramatic healthcare crisis, which saw hospitals run out of drinking water, their services collapse and looting; whereas, according to the organisation Doctors for Health, at least 26 people died in hospitals due to the lack of electricity;

D.  whereas the outages have been happening for many years and are a direct consequence of mismanagement, lack of maintenance and corruption by Nicolás Maduro’s regime;

E.  whereas in February 2019 a delegation of four Members of the European People’s Party (EPP) group officially invited by the National Assembly and interim president Juan Guaidó was expelled from the country;

F.  whereas on 6 March 2019 the Venezuelan Government ordered the German Ambassador to leave the country, accusing him of recurrent acts of interference in internal affairs; whereas some foreign and local journalists were also arrested, with their media equipment being confiscated, and expelled after their release;

G.  whereas Juan Guaidó appointed Ricardo Hausmann as the country’s representative to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC);

1.  Confirms its recognition of Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; expresses its full support for his roadmap, namely on putting an end to usurpation, on the establishment of a national transitional government and on the holding of snap presidential elections; calls on the Member States which have not already recognised him to do so urgently;

2.  Reiterates its deep concerns at the severe emergency situation, which is profoundly damaging the lives of Venezuelans;

3.  Reiterates its call for the full recognition as ambassadors of the diplomatic representatives appointed by the legitimate interim president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, to the EU and its Member States;

4.  Condemns the fierce repression and violence, which have resulted in killings and casualties; expresses its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and conveys its sincere condolences to their families and friends;

5.  Denounces the abuse of law enforcement and the brutal repression by security bodies, which have restrained the entry of humanitarian aid; condemns the use of irregular armed groups to attack and intimidate civilians and lawmakers who have mobilised to distribute assistance;

6.  Strongly condemns the harassment, detention and expulsion of several journalists covering the human rights situation in Venezuela;

7.  Reiterates that the only solution for the country is free, transparent and credible presidential elections based on a fixed calendar, fair conditions for all actors, transparency and the presence of credible international observers;

8.  Recognises the efforts undertaken by the Lima Group countries as a regional mechanism seeking a democratic solution to the crisis under the leadership of Juan Guaidó as legitimate interim president of Venezuela;

9.  Draws attention to the increased migratory crisis across the entire region and praises the efforts and solidarity shown by neighbouring countries, in particular Colombia; asks the Commission to continue cooperating with these countries, not only by providing humanitarian assistance but also by providing more resources and through development policy;

10.  Calls for additional sanctions targeting illegitimate state authorities’ assets abroad and those individuals responsible for human rights breaches and repression; considers that the EU authorities must consequently restrict the movements of these individuals, as well as of their closest relatives, and freeze their assets and visas;

11.  Regrets the lack of any tangible result of the contact group so far; recalls that its only purpose should be to create the conditions necessary for snap presidential elections;

12.  Calls on the Member States, the VP/HR and the countries of the region to explore the possibility of establishing an international donors’ conference with the aim of providing broad financial support for reconstruction and the transition to democracy;

13.  Decries the influence of the Cuban regime in Venezuela, which, by using its agents, has contributed to destabilising democracy and increasing political repression against the opposition; calls for retribution for this intervention to be considered in the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba;

14.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the legitimate interim president of the Republic and National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the governments and parliaments of the Lima Group countries, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States.

 

Last updated: 25 March 2019
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