MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the emergency situation in Venezuela
25.3.2019 - (2019/2628(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Karol Karski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Hans‑Olaf Henkel, Bernd Kölmel, Ulrike Trebesius, Jana Žitňanská, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Ruža Tomašić, Jan Zahradil, Monica Macovei, Raffaele Fitto, Anna Elżbieta Fotygaon behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0225/2019
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], and of 31 January 2019 on the situation in Venezuela[4],
– having regard to the declaration of 24 February 2019 by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the latest events in Venezuela,
– having regard to the declaration of 26 January 2019 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on behalf of the EU on the situation in Venezuela,
– having regard to the declaration of 10 January 2019 by the VP/HR on behalf of the EU on the new mandate of President Maduro,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, as a result of a political crisis, Venezuela is facing an unprecedented multidimensional crisis that is having an impact on a growing number of Venezuelans;
B. whereas, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than three million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014; whereas the exodus of people from Venezuela has largely been caused by a humanitarian crisis, but many Venezuelans have also fled because of a government crackdown that has led to thousands of arbitrary arrests, the prosecution of hundreds of civilians by military courts, and torture and other abuses of detainees;
C. whereas Venezuelans are facing severe shortages of medicine, medical supplies and food, seriously undermining their rights to health and food and leading to increased levels of maternal and infant mortality, dramatic surges in infectious diseases and high levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition;
D. whereas the refusal of the regime to recognise the international humanitarian emergency led last month to an escalation of tensions; whereas there have been worrying reports of unrest, acts of violence and a growing number of victims, in particular in the border areas;
E. whereas a nationwide power blackout in early March contributed to a further deterioration of health services and the supply of food and clean water;
F. whereas on 21 March 2019 masked intelligence agents arrested Roberto Marrero, a key aide and chief of staff of Venezuela’s interim president, Juan Guaidó; whereas Marrero is accused of planning ‘acts of sabotage’ against officials and is being charged with terrorism;
G. whereas Billy Six, a German journalist, was reportedly arrested in mid-November 2018 and held in a military prison on accusations of espionage, rebellion and the violation of security zones; whereas he was released under certain conditions on 15 March 2019 and allowed to leave the country; whereas at least 19 journalists have been detained in 2019 alone; whereas it was reported on 15 March 2019 that Tomasz Surdel, the Venezuela correspondent for Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, had been violently assaulted, allegedly by the Special Action Forces of the Venezuelan National Police, while driving his car in Caracas;
H. 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’;
I. whereas international and regional partners, including the EU, have committed to assisting in creating the conditions for a peaceful, credible and inclusive political process among all relevant Venezuelan actors;
J. whereas the EU has repeatedly called for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela through a credible political process;
K. whereas on 23 March 2019, two Russian military planes landed at Venezuela’s main airport, reportedly carrying dozens of troops and large amounts of equipment;
1. Is deeply concerned at the further worsening of the situation in Venezuela; expresses once again its solidarity with the people of Venezuela;
2. Reiterates its recognition of Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and expresses its full support for his roadmap; reiterates its full support to the National Assembly, which is the only legitimate democratic body of Venezuela and whose powers need to be restored and respected;
3. Strongly urges the law enforcement and security bodies to show restraint, avoid the use of force and permit the entry of humanitarian aid; condemns the use of irregular armed groups to intimidate civilians and lawmakers who have mobilised to distribute assistance;
4. Welcomes the fact that the EU has already committed more than EUR 60 million in humanitarian and development aid over the past year, and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue this commitment in the time to come;
5. Condemns the arrest of Roberto Marrero and calls for his immediate release;
6. Welcomes the release of German journalist Billy Six; condemns the detention of several other journalists covering the situation in Venezuela and calls for their immediate release; condemns the violent assault on Polish journalist Tomasz Surdel and calls on the Venezuelan authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the targeted assault and identify those responsible;
7. Condemns the expulsion of the German Ambassador from Venezuela;
8. Reiterates its call for free, transparent and credible presidential elections based on an agreed calendar, equal conditions for all actors, transparency and international observation;
9. 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, 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.