Stock photo / Diplomatic relations between the European Union and Venezuela have been  strained recently. 

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The Venezuela government of President Nicholas Maduro issued the European Union an invitation to deploy an “election accompanying mission” for the legislative elections scheduled to take place in December.   The EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said Tuesday the Maduro  government’s request was rejected on the grounds  that it did not meet the EU’s  requirements to guarantee minimum conditions of credibility, transparency and inclusiveness, and the ability to observe the electoral process without interference including unobstructed access. Borrell said the invitation to deploy an  “election accompanying mission” is a concept that is “alien to Union practice.”  Borrell said that during the  last few weeks, he has had numerous contacts with different political actors in Venezuela, both from the regime and the opposition.  The aim of these contacts was to assess the possibilities that the political actors could agree on a framework for the legislative elections scheduled to take place in December, Borrell said. Venezuela will hold elections in December to renew the National Assembly.

EU High Representative / VP Joseph Borrell

“Following my contacts with Venezuelan representatives and political leaders, I have to conclude that conditions are not met, at this stage, for a transparent, inclusive, free and fair electoral process. In my contacts, I suggested the possibility to extend the electoral deadlines to meet the request made by the opposition. As an answer to that, I have received a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs informing me about an agreement on that matter with a sector of the opposition. It is a step in the right direction, but not enough for the European Union to be able to deploy an Election Observation Mission. To do that, we need a precise and a broadly positive answer to the minimum requirements defined by the opposition.”

-EU High Representative/Vice-President Joseph  Borrell

Diplomatic relations between the EU  and Venezuela have been  strained recently

Last month, a diplomatic firestorm erupted  between Brussels and Caracas after the EU Council added 11 leading Venezuelan officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures, because of what the EU said for their role in acts and decisions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.   In response,  President Maduro announced that Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, the EU ambassador in Caracas, was being expelled and given 72 hours to leave as Brussels sanctioned the Venezuelan officials  for acting against the National Assembly headed by opposition leader Juan Guaidó. 

“Given the interventionist, racist  and supremacist actions of the European Union that attack Venezuelans with sanctions, I decided to give 72 hours to their ambassador to leave the country. They must respect Venezuela in its integrity as a nation. Enough of Colonialism!”

-President Maduro blasted the EU last month. 

However, the government of President Maduro  later reversed its decision ordering the EU ambassador to leave.  Restrictive measures by the EU on Venezuela were introduced in November 2017. They include an embargo on arms and on equipment for internal repression as well as a travel ban and an asset freeze on listed individuals. The EU measures have strained relations between Brussels and Caracas.  In February 2019, European countries including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Denmark recognised Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela in a coordinated move made after a deadline for  Maduro to call presidential elections expired.