MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Venezuela

15.7.2019 - (2019/2730(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 132(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Esteban González Pons, Michael Gahler, Dolors Montserrat, Leopoldo López Gil, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Nuno Melo, Paulo Rangel, Ivan Štefanec, Vladimír Bilčík, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Javier Zarzalejos, Francisco José Millán Mon, Antonio Tajani, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima
on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0006/2019

B9‑0006/2019

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Venezuela

(2019/2730(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela, in particular those of 3 May 2018 on the elections in Venezuela[1], of 5 July 2018 on the migration crisis and humanitarian situation in Venezuela and at its terrestrial borders with Colombia and Brazil[2], of 25 October 2018 on the situation in Venezuela[3], of 31 January 2019 on the situation in Venezuela[4] and of 28 March 2019 on the emergency situation in Venezuela[5],

– having regard to the report on Venezuela by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 4 July 2019,

– 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, and 28 March 2019,

– having regard to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Report on Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees of 8 March 2019,

– having regard to the IV International Technical Meeting of the Quito Process, held in Buenos Aires on 4 and 5 July 2019,

– having regard to the Lima Group Statement of 30 April 2019,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas between 2018 and 2019, the political, economic, institutional, social and multidimensional humanitarian crisis has significantly worsened; whereas increased shortages of medicines and food, massive human rights violations, hyperinflation, political oppression, corruption and violence are endangering people’s lives;

B. whereas from 19 to 21 June, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visited the country; whereas she urged the de facto Government of Venezuela to take immediate, concrete measures to halt and remedy the grave violations of human rights documented in the country;

C. whereas more than 7 million people in Venezuela are in need of humanitarian assistance; whereas the de facto Maduro government has violated the right to food, including the State’s obligation to ensure the population is free from hunger; whereas according to the UN, 3.7 million Venezuelans are malnourished, which is particularly damaging for children and pregnant women; whereas some women have been forced to exchange sex for food and have faced violence on numerous occasions;

D. whereas the health situation in the country is dire, with hospitals lacking staff, supplies, medicines and electricity, which resulted in at least 1 557 deaths between November 2018 and February 2019; whereas there are shortages in essential drugs of 60 to 100 % in four of Venezuela’s major cities, including Caracas; whereas maternal mortality has increased and many women have had to leave the country to give birth;

E. whereas more than 3.4 million Venezuelans have had to flee the country; whereas the total number of Venezuelans forced to migrate will have surpassed 5 million by the end of 2019, making this the second biggest migrant and refugee crisis in the world;

F. whereas nearly 7 000 people have been extrajudicially killed during security operations in Venezuela in the past year and a half; whereas the authorities are using FAES (the Special Actions Force of the Bolivarian National Police) and other security forces as part of their policy of social control; whereas the families of those killed extrajudicially during the protests continue to be prevented from exercising their rights to truth, justice and reparation;

G. whereas torture is used as a systemic tool by the regime to intimidate and dissuade protestors, thus creating a climate of terror;

H. whereas 22 deputies, including the President of the National Assembly, have been stripped of their parliamentary immunity; whereas 2 parliamentarians are in detention and 16 have either sought protection in embassies, left the country or gone into hiding;

I. whereas indigenous peoples are being subjected to violent and criminal acts; whereas 63 of them have been arbitrarily detained and tortured, 7 have died and more than 23 have been injured and had to travel to hospitals outside the country to be treated;

J. whereas on 29 June 2019, Rafael Acosta Arévalo, a naval captain who was arrested and tortured over an alleged assassination plot against Nicolás Maduro, died in custody; whereas the de facto authorities seized and illegally concealed his remains for 11 days before burying them, without respecting his family’s basic rights and wish to mourn their deceased;

K. whereas on 2 July, Rufo Chacón, a 16-year-old Venezuelan boy, lost his eyesight after being shot in the face by government officers at a protest over the lack of petrol;

1. Reiterates its deep concerns at the severe state of emergency in Venezuela, which is seriously endangering the lives of its citizens;

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

3. Highlights the direct responsibility of Nicolás Maduro, as well as the armed and intelligence forces in the service of his illegitimate regime, for the indiscriminate use of violence to repress the process of democratic transition and the restoration of the rule of law in Venezuela;

4. Denounces the abuse by law enforcement officers and the brutal repression carried out by security forces; calls for the establishment of an impartial and independent national mechanism, with the support of the international community, to investigate extrajudicial executions carried out during security operations so as to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and that the families of the victims are provided with redress and afforded protection against intimidation and reprisals;

5. Condemns the violations of the right to food and medical care; urgently calls for the availability and accessibility of food, medicines and healthcare services to be guaranteed, while paying special attention to maternal and child services;

6. Stresses the need to stop, publicly condemn, punish and prevent all acts of persecution and selective repression for political reasons; calls for the release of all persons arbitrarily deprived of their freedom;

7. Draws attention to the increasingly serious migration crisis across the entire region and praises the efforts of and solidarity shown by neighbouring countries, especially Colombia; requests that the Commission continue to cooperate with these countries, not only by providing humanitarian assistance but also by providing more resources and through development policy;

8. Points out that the ongoing dialogue must be based on the roadmap adopted in the National Assembly of Venezuela; insists that the dialogue’s exclusive aim must be the creation of conditions leading to free, transparent and credible presidential elections based on a fixed calendar, fair conditions for all actors, transparency, and the presence of credible international observers;

9. Calls on the Council to impose additional sanctions targeting the foreign assets of illegitimate state authorities and individuals responsible for human rights violations and repression; believes that the EU authorities must restrict the movements of these individuals, as well as those of their closest relatives, and freeze their assets and visas;

10. Asks the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to lead the EU policy on the situation in Venezuela and to align the Contact Group with the democratic countries of the region represented by the Group of Lima;

11. Fully supports the investigations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the extensive crimes and acts of repression perpetrated by the Venezuelan regime; urges the EU to join the initiative of the ICC State Parties to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by the de facto Maduro government in order to hold those responsible to account;

12. Supports the initiative to establish a Commission of Inquiry with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the determination of individual responsibilities in the systematic violations of human rights in Venezuela;

13. 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 the 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.

 

• [1] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0199.
• [2] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0313.
• [3] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0436.
• [4] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0061.
• [5] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0327.