site.btaEuropean Commission to Continue Dialogue with Venezuelan Authorities Despite Non-Recognition of Legitimacy

The European Commission said on Tuesday that it will continue its dialogue with the authorities in Venezuela, despite the European Union not recognizing the legitimacy of the election of Nicolas Maduro as president of the country and Delcy Rodriguez as his deputy.

At a press conference in Brussels the EC’s lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anitta Hipper, responding to a question about the swearing in of Rodriges as acting president of Venezuela, said: “Delcy Rodriguez has just been sworn as interim president of Venezuela. We do not have a specific comment on that. What we have reiterated, and I'm happy to recall it again, is that the authorities in Venezuela, they derived their mandate from an electoral process that failed to respect the will of the people for democratic change. So we have stressed out yesterday and also today that the future of Venezuela should be precisely shaped through an inclusive dialogue leading to a democratic transition, and hence include all those actors that are committed to democracy. And this includes the figures of the democratically elected opposition leaders. What we will do in this case is what we have done so far, even though we have not recognized the legitimacy of President Maduro, and the same for Delcy Rodriguez as such, but we will maintain targeted engagement throughout, with the Venezuelan authorities to safeguard our own interests and uphold our own principles.”

The European Commission on Monday expressed hope that events in Venezuela would create an opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people and involving Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado.

“The principles of international law and the UN Charter must be upheld, and also members of the United Nations Security Council, they have a particular role and responsibility to uphold these principles as a pillar of international security. And once more, the EU has stated that Nicolas Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president and pointed out to the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future,” Hipper added.