How can the European Union and its member states help promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela?
Please join the CSIS Future of Venezuela Initiative for a virtual webinar discussion on the role that the European Union (EU) can play in promoting a peaceful transition to democracy and responding to human rights violations in Venezuela.
The EU has taken concrete steps to pressure the Maduro regime and promote democracy in Venezuela. Since 2018, the EU has applied targeted sanctions on high-level officials of the regime who have perpetrated human rights violations and undermined the rule of law. In early 2019, the EU Parliament recognized Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, and EU member states formed an International Contact Group with Latin American countries to promote a common understanding and more concerted approach aimed at a peaceful democratic transition.
Compared to the US, the EU has taken a less confrontational approach toward the Maduro regime. The EU has not applied sectoral sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry, for example. More recently, the EU also attempted to negotiate with the Maduro regime to delay the December 6 parliamentary elections, which have been widely condemned as fraudulent.
The EU is a body of 27 states with varying levels of interests and nuanced positions toward the Maduro regime. The purpose of this event is to shed light on what additional steps the EU could take to safeguard human rights and facilitate a democratic transition in Venezuela, particularly in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections and the end-of-mandate of the current National Assembly.
This event is made possible by general CSIS support.
