European Union  Representative Josep Borrell

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

High Representative of the European Union  Josep Borrell is coming under heavy attack by MEPs who accuse him of sending a “secret” mission to Venezuela in the run-up to the December 6 national elections.  The EU dispatched a mission to Venezuela last month to assist in improving electoral conditions in Venezuela ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for December. However,  several EU MEPs members of are livid over the diplomatic mission and are demanding clarification from Borrell.

“The High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell cannot send a secret mission to a dictator without consultation”.

-declared MEPs Antonio Tajani, Paulo Rangel and Dolors Montserrat. 

The MEPs  are requesting full clarity from Borrell about the EU high-level mission sent to Venezuela on 24 to 28 September with the aim of negotiating a possible delay of the legislative elections scheduled for 6 December 2020 with Nicolás Maduro.  According to the EU, the mission included discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including the President of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and all opposition forces. Meetings also included regime officials, the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, civil society and the private sector.

“Such a mission only legitimises Maduro, not recognised by the EU as Venezuela’s leader, and the elections organised by his regime. Just postponing the elections without any conditions undermines at the same the EU’s other political demands in Venezuela”.

-stressed Tajani, former President of the European Parliament

EU MEP   Antonio TAJANI  /   europa.eu

Paulo Rangel, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, further criticised that the mission has not been discussed with nor endorsed by the leaders of the democratic forces, including by the legitimate interim President of the country Juan Guaidó.

“Imagine sending an EU mission to talk to Lukashenko behind the back of the Belarusian opposition! That is what Josep Borrell did in Venezuela”.

-Rangel said.

“Sending such a mission is a strategic and political mistake which weakens the EU’s position with regard to the Venezuelan regime and whitewashes Maduro’s totalitarian regime. We demand full clarity on why such a mission was sent”.

-concluded Montserrat, member of the EPP Group bureau and Head of the Spanish Delegation.

EU Rejects Maduro Invitation To Deploy Electoral Commission To Monitor December Elections in VENEZUELA

Last month, the Venezuela government of President  Maduro issued the EU an invitation to deploy an “election accompanying mission” for the legislative elections scheduled to take place in December.    EU High Representative/Vice-President Borrell  responded that 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.