EU considers lifting sanctions on Venezuela’s interim president

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has announced that she will propose lifting sanctions against Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez. This is in response to the Venezuelan parliament's decision last week to approve a limited amnesty law for some prisoners.

However, according to Kallas, it is not yet clear whether this move will achieve unanimous agreement among EU member states.

Sanctions against representatives of the regime in Caracas are among the long-term tools Brussels uses to exert pressure in support of democracy and human rights in Venezuela. Any easing of measures could signal the EU's willingness to respond to partial political concessions by the Venezuelan government.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has already joined the proposal, calling on the EU to support this move. However, the decisive factor will be whether all 27 member states can be persuaded.

(reuters, mja)