GINEBRA.- The European Union agreed to temporarily withdraw a series of sanctions against leaders in Venezuela within the framework of efforts to have “inclusive and competitive” presidential elections on July 28, in which Nicolas Maduro aspires to re-election.
Specifically, the member states decided to ease sanctions against the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), as well as three former members of the CNE. The particular measure involves the temporary suspension of the application of travel restrictions.
“With this important and positive signal, we recognize the recent encouraging steps and reconfirm our commitment and support for the proper development of the electoral process,” explained the EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Peter Stano, in statements to Europa Press.
Likewise, the European bloc decided to extend the rest of the sanctions it maintains against Venezuela for a shorter period, that is until January 10, 2025, coinciding with the date set for the inauguration of the elected Venezuelan president who comes out of the polls. in July.
Both measures are in line with supporting the electoral path to end the crisis in Venezuelaindicated Stano, who explained that the EU continues to cooperate with the CNE for the possible deployment of an electoral observation mission that allows an independent and impartial evaluation of the elections.
The EU External Action Service headed by the High Representative, Josep Borrell, sent an exploratory mission to Venezuela to examine whether the minimum conditions exist to send an electoral observation mission, despite the fact that the main opposition candidate, María Corina Machado , has been disabled and in its place Edmundo González the distance It will finally be the opposition’s bet in the face of obstacles to registering other candidates.
The European Parliament and the External Action Service of the European Union held a first meeting at the end of April to discuss the possible deployment of European observers for the presidential elections.
Source: With information from Europa Press
