MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the migration and refugee crisis
6.7.2020 - (2019/2952(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 132(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Kati Piri, Maria‑Manuel Leitão‑Marques, Javi López
on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0211/2020
B9‑0213/2020
European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the migration and refugee crisis
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela, in particular those of 18 July 2019 on the situation in Venezuela[1] and of 16 January 2020 on the situation in Venezuela after the illegal election of the new National Assembly Presidency and Bureau (parliamentary coup)[2],
– having regard to the declarations on Venezuela 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 of 3 April 2020, of 16 June 2020 and of 30 June 2020,
– having regard to the agreement concluded between the Ministry of People’s Power for Health of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the National Assembly’s advisory team for COVID-19 to join forces together with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) with a view to tackling COVID-19,
– having regard to the International Contact Group statements of 16 June 2020 on the undermined credibility of the Venezuelan electoral body and of 24 June 2020 on the worsening political crisis in Venezuela,
– having regard to the resolution of the Organization of American States (OAS) of 26 June 2020 on recent illegitimate Supreme Court decisions in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
– having regard to the Lima Group statements of 20 February, 2 March, 2 April and 16 June 2020,
– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 8 April 2020 on the global EU response to COVID-19 (JOIN(2020)0011),
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/898 of 29 June 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela[3],
– having regard to the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 2 July 2020 at the 44th Session of the UN Human Rights Council,
– having regard to the joint communiqué of 2 July 2020 issued after the phone call between VP/HR Josep Borrell and Venezuelan Minister Jorge Arreaza,
– having regard to the Venezuelan Constitution,
– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas 5.1 million people have left Venezuela as a result of political instability, insecurity and economic collapse; whereas the vast majority, around 80 %, are being hosted in countries across Latin America and the Caribbean; whereas this is the largest refugee crisis in Latin American history and has become one of the biggest displacement crises in the world;
B. whereas people in Venezuela continue to suffer grave violations of their economic and social rights as a result of low salaries, high food prices, persisting deficiencies in public services, such as electricity and water, fuel shortages and precarious access to healthcare; whereas the crisis has been exacerbated by the increase in economic sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic;
C. whereas the European Union and its Member States have been supporting the Venezuelan population and the communities hosting refugees for years; whereas in October 2019, together with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the EU organised the first Solidarity Conference in Brussels to raise awareness of the magnitude of the situation and of the need to mobilise funds through a donor conference in the first half of 2020; whereas the crisis caused by COVID-19 makes it even more urgent to fulfil this commitment;
D. whereas the EU and the Spanish Government convened the International Donors Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the countries of the region, amid COVID-19, which took place on 26 May 2020; whereas over 40 countries, along with the UN agencies, international financial institutions and representatives of national and international civil society, participated in the conference and pledged to mobilise EUR 2 544 billion, including EUR 595 million in direct grants for the displaced population and the main host communities, and to strengthen coordination among the key actors;
E. whereas the EU assistance amounts to over EUR 319 million, both within and outside Venezuela; whereas EUR 156 million have been devoted to humanitarian assistance, EUR 136 million to development and EUR 27 million to stability and peace; whereas the EU provides Venezuelan refugees and migrants with emergency medical services, food assistance, shelter, legal information and support, protection initiatives against gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings, and education in emergencies;
F. whereas in the light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the EU has adopted its ‘Team Europe’ approach to mitigate the effects of the crisis and to contribute to regional stability; whereas EUR 918 million have been redirected towards the most vulnerable countries and population groups in Latin America and the Caribbean; whereas the EU has provided EUR 9 million in support to the PAHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in Venezuela and countries in the region and prepare a response to the crisis; whereas this support has been distributed across the region, with priority given to the countries hosting the highest number of vulnerable refugees and migrants from Venezuela, in particular Colombia, Peru and Ecuador;
G. whereas on 15 May 2020 the UNHCR had received only 22 % of the funds pledged by the international community to address the Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis; whereas the international community needs to find innovative solutions to unlock other possible financial resources to help the Venezuelan people address their emergency needs beyond humanitarian and longer-term cooperation aid;
H. whereas on 1 June 2020, an agreement was concluded between the Ministry of the People’s Power for Health of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the National Assembly’s advisory team for COVID-19 to allow millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to be delivered to Venezuela apolitically through the PAHO and to coordinate efforts to obtain international funding to strengthen Venezuela’s ability to respond to the pandemic;
I. whereas on 26 May 2020, the Venezuelan Supreme Court approved Mr Luis Parra as President of the National Assembly; whereas the session which took place in January 2020 respected neither legal procedure nor democratic constitutional principles in preventing a large majority of democratic force representatives from being present during the session and consequently from casting their votes;
J. whereas in accordance with the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the appointment of the members of the National Electoral Council is the responsibility of the National Assembly; whereas on 10 June 2020, the Supreme Court issued a decision giving the Electoral Nominations Committee a 72-hour deadline within which to identify the names of the candidates for rectors of the National Electoral Council; whereas on 12 June 2020, the Supreme Court appointed the rectors of the National Electoral Council; whereas the replacement of the board of directors of some of the main opposition parties did enormous damage to the possibility of a consensual electoral path and democratic elections;
K. whereas on 29 June 2020, the Council added 11 leading Venezuelan officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures as a result of their role in acts and decisions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela; whereas the decision brings the total number of individuals under sanctions, which include a travel ban and an asset freeze, to 36; whereas these measures target individuals and do not affect the population in general;
L. whereas the Maduro regime reacted to this by announcing that EU Ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, Head of the EU Delegation in Caracas, had 72 hours to leave the country; whereas the EU called for this decision to be reversed and firmly condemned it; whereas following a phone conversation between VP/HR Josep Borrell and Venezuelan Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza, the Venezuelan Government decided to rescind the decision made on 29 June 2020 by which Ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa was declared persona non grata; whereas both sides agreed on the need to maintain the framework of diplomatic relations and to facilitate the path of political dialogue;
M. whereas seven EU Member States and the United Kingdom, together with regional partners, established the International Contact Group in January 2019, with the objective of creating the conditions for and providing support to a political process that could lead to the peaceful restoration of democracy; whereas the EU will continue to work to build broad international support for a peaceful negotiated transition, leading to a democratic future in Venezuela;
1. Expresses its solidarity with and full support to the people of Venezuela who are suffering the effects of a severe humanitarian and political crisis, which is currently being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic;
2. Reaffirms its position that a sustainable solution to the profound Venezuelan crisis needs to include free, transparent, credible and fair legislative and presidential elections with international observation and with a fully independent National Electoral Council and Supreme Court, as well as the full freedom of the press and the political participation of all Venezuelans;
3. Remains convinced that a peaceful, political and democratic solution is the only sustainable way out of the Venezuelan crisis and recalls that violence, including any military or violent incursion in the country, is not an option;
4. Rejects the illegal designation of the members of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela through a ruling by the Supreme Court, which openly violates the Venezuelan Constitution and undermines the minimum guarantees necessary for any electoral process and the return to democracy in Venezuela;
5. Welcomes the agreement reached on 2 July 2020 to rescind the decision made on 29 June 2020, by which Ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa was declared persona non grata; believes that diplomatic channels of dialogue need to be kept open for the benefit of the population;
6. Calls on the International Contact Group to seek a consensus with other international actors to mobilise a response from the international community that contributes to the urgent restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela;
7. Calls on the international community to effectively disburse the EUR 2 544 billion committed at the Donors Conference and supports innovative schemes to allow Venezuelans access to their frozen assets for humanitarian reasons;
8. Welcomes the agreement reached on the fight against COVID-19 together with the PAHO and calls on both parties to immediately engage in meaningful and inclusive negotiations towards the constitution of the National Electoral Council and the lifting of bans on opposition parties;
9. Reaffirms its previous positions stating that a peaceful, democratic and inclusive solution is the only sustainable way out of the current political impasse and the severe social and humanitarian crisis it has provoked;
10. Requests that the European External Action Service (EEAS) continue working through the International Contact Group in an effort to achieve a peaceful and democratic solution through free and fair presidential elections;
11. 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 Organization of American States.
- [1] Texts adopted, P9_TA(2019)0007.
- [2] Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0013.
- [3] OJ L 205 I, 29.6.2020, p. 6.