MEPs debate the situation in Venezuela following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

During the plenary debate, MEPs will assess the situation and are expected to emphasise the need for a swift and peaceful transition to real democracy in Venezuela. In 2024, the European Parliament awarded Venezuelan opposition politicians María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The latter was also recognised as the country’s legitimate president by MEPs in a resolution adopted the same year.

EU - United States of America (T)

EU - Venezuela (T)

KALLAS, Kaja (EE, EC)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 (T)

GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Edmundo (VE)

EP Plenary debate on the situation in Venezuela

EP Plenary session - Situation in Venezuela

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, closes the debate on the situation in Venezuela, following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition. Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

Situation in Venezuela: closing statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs debate on the situation in Venezuela, following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition. Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

Situation in Venezuela: MEPs debate (part 1)

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, opens the debate on the situation in Venezuela, following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition. Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

Situation in Venezuela: opening statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

This News item shows extracts from MEPs debate on the situation in Venezuela following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition. Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being. During the plenary debate, MEPs assess the situation and emphasise the need for a swift and peaceful transition to real democracy in Venezuela.

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