Visit of Julio BORGES, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, to the EP in Brussels. Arrival, welcome by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, roundtable and extracts from the press point.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

press point

meeting

visit

BORGES, Julio (VE)

EU - Venezuela (T)

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Julio BORGES, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela: arrival, roundtable and extracts from the press point

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, The EP approved a resolution in April on the situation in Venezuela, which was supported by 450 votes in favour. Only 35 against. A resolution which condemns the brutal repression of the demonstrations by the government. Our petition as European Parliament is clear: 1) stop any form of violence 2) liberation of political prisoners 3) respect of the powers of the National Assembly 4) an electoral calendar 5) free passage of humanitarian aid

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, <p>I want to be very clear. This is not about about interference. This is about being attentive to the calls of the Venezuelan people, which is suffering and is asking the world for help. The National Assembly, its legislative organ, is incapacitated to exercise its powers since the opposition won the legislative elections in December of 2015. This is not normal.</p>

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, La situation is getting worse by the minute. That is why we have to evaluate others options and concrete solutions. For instance, the US has recently decided to put in place a package of sanctions against magistrates of the supreme court of justice. We should reflect on similar measures. In this context, I have decided to send a letter to President TUSK And to President JUNCKER to look into this more profoundly to see which measures could be taken.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, the EP is ready to work with the UN, the OAS (The Organization of American States), with the Vatican and other interlocutors, to send a joint mission and negotiate with all the involved actors to find a solution. Lastly, we see the calling for a new National Assembly as a new coup d'etat. 

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Julio BORGES, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, <p>What is the Venezuelan people looking for? It is simply the opportunity that its own constitution is giving it; to have free elections, now general elections, and that it be the Venezuelan people as it says in the constitution that can elect its destiny. Against this reality that the whole world agrees with, as the EP has done too, NIcolas MADURO has decided to consolidate a coup the d'etat in process.</p>

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Julio BORGES, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, In line with the resolution of the EP resolution, the decision has been taken that a commission can visit Venezuela, and help find a democratic outcome. Today, I would like to officially invite through President Antonio TAJANI, a delegation of European parliamentarians to visit our country, so as to be able to see the reality of human rights, the democratic problem, the problem of violence and above all, the humanitarian problem.