ALBARES PROPOSES TO THE EU THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA

The acting Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, today proposed to his EU counterparts the review of European sanctions against Venezuela “in line with the recent US decisions in that regard” and taking into account the recent agreement between the opposition and the regime of Nicolás Maduro for the holding of presidential elections in 2024.

“At my own request, I have intervened with my colleagues to propose to them to study the review of the EU sanctions against Venezuela in line with the recent US decisions in that regard, and given the positive evolution of the dialogue between Venezuelans,” Albares said at the press conference after the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (CAE), held in Luxembourg.

“The high representative (Josep Borrell) has agreed with my request and has advanced that he will bring that review study to an upcoming Foreign Affairs Council,” he added. The European sanctions against Caracas will be automatically renewed on November 14, unless there is a decision to the contrary in the next CAE, which will take place, precisely, one day before, on November 13.

Last week, the United States announced the lifting of Venezuela’s oil and gas sanctions for six months after the Maduro Government and the opposition Unitarian Platform reached an agreement in Barbados for the holding of presidential elections in the second half of 2024 and with the presence of international observers.

Last July, the European Union offered Venezuela the possibility of lifting the sanctions if democratic, inclusive and fair presidential elections are held in 2024. The European sanctions against Venezuela were adopted for the first time in 2016 and imply for those sanctioned, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, the prohibition of entry into the EU and the freezing of their assets and assets in Europe.

This article was originally published in Here Europe .