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Foreign Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Questions (103)

Niall Collins

Question:

103. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17591/18]

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Written answers

The situation in Venezuela continues to be a matter of serious concern to the Government.

Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly called for concrete actions to ensure full respect for and the independence of Venezuela’s democratic institutions, notably through the holding of free and fair elections supervised by a balanced Electoral Council and involving independent international observation.

The Government of Venezuela has, however, unilaterally scheduled presidential, state and municipal elections for 20 May. It is a matter of deep regret that these elections have been convened in the absence of agreement on either the electoral calendar or on the conditions for a credible and inclusive electoral process.

The ongoing political, economic, social, and humanitarian crises continue to have a profoundly negative impact on the country and on the people of Venezuela. The mass exodus of Venezuelan people from the country is continuing, with a consequent impact on neighbouring countries and concerns at the impact on regional stability.

It was agreed at this month’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, which took place in Luxembourg on 16 April, that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini should issue a Declaration on behalf of the EU on the situation in Venezuela.

The High Representative issued the Declaration on Thursday 19 April and the text of that Declaration, including an update on recent developments, is annexed to this reply for the Deputy’s information.

Ireland, as a member of the EU, fully subscribes to the views expressed in that statement.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government will, along with our EU partners, continue to closely monitor developments in Venezuela, particularly in the context of next month’s elections.

ANNEX

Council of the EU - PRESS RELEASE 207/18 19/04/2018

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the situation in Venezuela

Recent developments in Venezuela are causing further polarisation and are preventing progress on the multiple crises that the country is facing.

The presidential elections are announced for 20 May, and will be held together with the election of the members of municipal and state assemblies. We deeply regret that elections have been convened without a wide agreement on the electoral calendar nor on the conditions for a credible and inclusive electoral process.

We also regret the continued existence of political prisoners and obstacles to limit the participation of political parties and candidates.

The recent decision of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to limit participation in local and regional elections to those parties that present candidates for the presidential elections is a further blow to the credibility of the process. This will only exacerbate polarisation and create more obstacles to a peaceful political solution.

The European Union calls on the government to ensure free, transparent, and credible elections that allow the participation of all political parties under equal conditions; a balanced composition of the CNE; an agreed and viable electoral calendar and all technical guarantees necessary for elections to conform to international standards. Such conditions are necessary to allow for full and independent international observations missions.

The European Union is fully committed to supporting Venezuela to find peaceful and democratic solutions and is ready to use all its instruments to support regional and international efforts to that end. In this context, the European Union will monitor closely the electoral process and related developments on the ground and stands ready to react through appropriate measures to any decision or action that might continue to undermine democracy, the rule of law and human rights situation in the country.

The European Union is also concerned and monitoring in close cooperation with the UN and other international organisations, the social impact of the ongoing economic crisis that is seriously affecting the population, including many European citizens residing in the country, and leading to the current mass migration that creates challenges to host communities, particularly Colombia and

Brazil, and regional stability.

As announced by Commissioner Stylianides during his recent visit to the region, the EU will be providing assistance to those affected.

Press office - General Secretariat of the Council, Rue de la Loi 175 - B-1048 BRUSSELS - Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6319, press.office@consilium.europa.eu - www.consilium.europa.eu/press

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