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 - Venezuela (T)

EU - Venezuela

Situation in Venezuela: extracts from the debate

Situation in Venezuela: extracts from the vote and extracts from the debate (30/01) - illustrative shots from Caracas

Opening remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President: situation in Venezuela and tribute to the mayor of Gdansk murdered on the 14 January

Opening remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President on the situation in Venezuela

EP Plenary session - Situation in Venezuela

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

Situation in Venezuela: MEPs debate (part 2)

Situation in Venezuela: MEPs debate (part 1)

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

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Munich Security Conference 2025 - Participation at the Spotlight Session on Venezuela

Munich Security Conference 2025 - Spotlight Session on Venezuela with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024: opening statements

EP Plenary debate on the situation in Venezuela

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia awarded 2024 Sakharov Prize

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Munich Security Conference 2025: atmosphere

Voting session

The situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025: Closing statements by Andrius KUBILIUS, European Commissioner for Defence and Space

The situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025: Opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA and by Andrius KUBILIUS

The situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025: extracts from the debate

The situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025: MEPs debate

Infoclip: Caracas (Venezuela) - Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

Infoclip: María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia awarded 2024 Sakharov Prize: roundtable at the Conference of Presidents and extracts from the announcement of the laureate

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Barry ANDREWS (Renew, IE), DEVE Chair and Mounir SATOURI (GREENS/EFA, FR), DROI Chair

Sakharov Fellowship for human rights defenders: Lorent Saleh, Sakharov Prize Laureate from 2017 visits the newly-renovated exhibition space dedicated to the Sakharov prize in the Parlamentarium

The latest developments in the National Assembly of Venezuela: closing statement

The latest developments in the National Assembly of Venezuela: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

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