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The European Union (EU) is considering lifting the sanctions imposed on Delcy Rodríguez, following a proposal put forward by Spain that aims to send a signal of rapprochement to the Venezuelan authorities amidst a new political scenario.
According to the agency EFE, the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, stated that she will propose the idea of lifting the sanctions against Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela.
Kallas made the announcement at the end of a council of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where he explained that he sees "two ways" to act regarding Venezuela. One of them, he detailed, is precisely the proposal to lift individual sanctions against Rodríguez, and the other consists of opening a broader discussion about the European approach towards the Venezuelan authorities, as long as there is consensus among the 27 member states.
Why this proposal now?
The EU sanctions against Delcy Rodríguez date back to 2018 and are part of a broader regime targeting figures in the Venezuelan government for undermining democracy and human rights.
Spain has argued that the withdrawal of these measures would be a sign of support for the political process in Venezuela, especially following gestures such as the release of political prisoners and the approval of an amnesty law by the Venezuelan National Assembly, which includes the release of hundreds of detainees for political reasons.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, insisted to his counterparts that lifting the sanctions against the interim president would be a clear sign of support for dialogue and would help ensure that Europe does not remain on the sidelines of the political process in Venezuela, similar to the level of engagement maintained by the United States. He also emphasized that any modification of the measures requires unanimity among the Twenty-Seven in order to be implemented.
What do the current sanctions imply?
The sanctions imposed by the EU on Delcy Rodríguez and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials include travel restrictions to EU territory and asset freezes, and have been periodically renewed, with the latest extension until January 2027. For years, the EU has conditioned these measures on the evolution of the democratic situation and human rights in the country.
With this initiative, Spain and the EU are exploring a possible political opening towards Caracas that, if approved, would mark a shift in the relationship between the European bloc and the Venezuelan authorities, against a backdrop of regional diplomatic rapprochements.
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