COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 10 January 2025

● Council of the EU   10/01/2025 18:43 | Press release | Forward look: 13 - 26 January 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 21 January 2025 The Polish Presidency will present its work programme. Ministers will hold a policy debate on competitiveness. Ministers will take note of the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Council is expected to adopt recommendations regarding medium-term fiscal-structural plans and member states that are currently under an excessive deficit procedure. The Council is expected to adopt implementing decisions approving modified recovery and resilience plans, submitted by some member states. Read more Other meetings Eurogroup, 20 January 2025 Informal meeting of education ministers, 21-22 January 2025   Indicative calendar of meetings under the Polish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2025) Polish presidency

● Council of the EU

10/01/2025 16:59 | Statements and remarks | Venezuela: statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the events of 10 January 2025   The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who voted peacefully on 28 July 2024 to determine the future of their country. Millions of Venezuelans voted for democratic change by supporting Edmundo González Urrutia by a significant majority, according to publicly available copies of electoral records (‘actas’). As the authorities have refused to publish official records from polling stations, the announced results remain unverified and cannot be recognised as representative of the will of the people. The Venezuelan authorities missed a key opportunity to respect the people’s will and ensure a transparent democratic transition with guarantees for all. Nicolás Maduro therefore lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president. Since election day, Venezuelan authorities have hardened repression and harassment against the opposition and civil society and their families, imprisoning dissenting voices and forcing its own citizens to live in fear or go into exile. More than 2,500 citizens including minors were arrested and, while the EU takes note of the release of some of them, none should have spent a single day in custody. The EU calls on the authorities of Venezuela to end all unjust and arbitrary detentions, including of dual and foreign citizens, and to unconditionally release all political prisoners. Venezuela must comply with its obligations under International Law, including the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular relations. We urge the authorities to ensure the full respect of human rights including the right to peaceful assembly and the freedom of expression. The EU welcomes the return to Caracas of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as a step in the right direction. We urge Venezuela to engage constructively and effectively with a fully fledged OHCHR, as well as with the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, the International Criminal Court and relevant regional mechanisms. In view of this situation, the Council has decided to adopt a new package of targeted sanctions against 15 individuals responsible for undermining democracy, rule of law or human rights in Venezuela. The aim is to support a negotiated and democratic solution to the crisis. The EU has not adopted any measure that could inflict harm on the Venezuelan people or on the economy. The responsibility for ending the crisis in Venezuela lies with its authorities. The reversal of EU sanctions will depend on tangible progress in human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela, along with meaningful steps towards genuine dialogue and a democratic transition. In 2025, the European Union will continue to address the urgent needs of the population of Venezuela, who suffer the consequences of the long humanitarian crisis. Last year alone, the EU committed almost 75 million Euros aimed at alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable. The European Union stands by all those upholding democratic values in Venezuela, including human rights defenders. The EU will continue to work with all Venezuelans, regional and international partners to foster dialogue and a democratic way out of the crisis led by Venezuelans that restores political stability, economic growth and social welfare to the millions of Venezuelans who face critical needs. The EU will pursue targeted engagement with the institutions and with political and civil society actors to address concerns and facilitate meaningful dialogue on human rights and the transition to democracy.   10/01/2025 16:58 | Press release | Venezuela: Council renews restrictive measures and lists a further 15 individuals in view of the situation in the country   The Council has decided to prolong the restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela for a further year, until 10 January 2026. Additionally the Council reintroduced the travel restrictions applied to four individuals, which had been temporarily suspended in May 2024 with the objective of promoting the organisation of inclusive, credible and competitive elections in Venezuela in July 2024. These decisions were taken in light of the persistent actions undermining democracy and the rule of law, as well as continued human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, including in relation to the conduct of and developments following the Presidential Elections of 28 July 2024. In light of the post electoral developments in Venezuela and the lack of progress towards a Venezuelan-led dialogue leading to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, and in view of the continued grave human rights situation in the country, the Council has also decided to adopt restrictive measures against 15 additional individuals. These individuals are members of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela (CNE), the judiciary, and the security forces. This decision brings to 69 the total number of individuals subject to sanctions, which include an asset freeze and a prohibition on the provision of funds or economic resources both directly and indirectly to those listed. Additionally, they are subject to travel bans in the European Union. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Background The EU introduced restrictive measures on Venezuela in November 2017. The measures include an embargo on arms and on equipment for internal repression, and the imposition of travel bans and asset freezes on listed individuals. These targeted measures are designed not to have adverse humanitarian effects or unintended consequences for the Venezuelan population, and can be reversed. In its conclusions of 19 December 2024, the European Council reiterated its concern about the situation in Venezuela. It called for the release of all political detainees and for Venezuela to uphold its commitments under international law. The European Union will mobilise all the tools at its disposal to support democracy and a peaceful and inclusive transition in Venezuela. Today, Canada, the UK and the US have also announced new sanctions on high-level Venezuelan officials. Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/49 of 9 January 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (including a list of the individuals sanctioned today) Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/43 of 9 January 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (on the prolongation of restrictive measures until 10 January 2026) Venezuela: statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the events of 10 January 2025 European Council conclusions, 17 October 2024 Venezuela: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on recent post-election developments (24 August 2024) Consolidated text: Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (dated 15 May 2024) EU response to the crisis in Venezuela (background information)