EU urges dialogue in Venezuela to set up new elections

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks to journalists prior to a EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The European Union called Monday for broad political talks in Venezuela to set up new elections and warned that it stands ready to slap sanctions on more senior officials in the country for undermining democracy or human rights violations. (John Thys/Pool Photo via AP)

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks to journalist prior to a EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The European Union called Monday for broad political talks in Venezuela to set up new elections and warned that it stands ready to slap sanctions on more senior officials in the country for undermining democracy or human rights violations. (John Thys/Pool Photo via AP)

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, right, speaks to Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas during a EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The European Union called Monday for broad political talks in Venezuela to set up new elections and warned that it stands ready to slap sanctions on more senior officials in the country for undermining democracy or human rights violations. (John Thys/Pool Photo via AP)

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union called Monday for broad political talks in Venezuela to set up new elections, and warned that it stands ready to slap sanctions on more senior Venezuelan officials in the country if they undermine democracy or take part in human rights violations.

EU foreign ministers said in a statement that “the only way out of the crisis in Venezuela is to resume political negotiations promptly and to urgently establish a Venezuelan-led dialogue and transition process leading to credible, inclusive and transparent local, legislative and presidential elections.”

Once a wealthy oil nation, Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis, which critics blame on two decades of failed socialist policies that have left the nation bankrupt and its crumbling infrastructure.

Describing the Dec. 6 elections as “a missed opportunity for democracy” whose results they cannot endorse, the ministers said the 27-nation bloc stands ready to send an observer mission should new polls take place.

They called for the “freedom and safety” of all political opponents to be ensured, “especially Juan Guaidó, as well as other representatives of the democratic opposition.” The opposition leader claimed presidential powers in early 2019 as head of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

A coalition of more than 50 nations recognized him, including most of the United States and most EU countries, saying that President Nicolás Maduro had clung to power after undemocratic elections.

In a tweet, Guaidó’s communications office welcomed the EU’s move of rejecting the recent election and expressing support for the opposition-led National Assembly, calling for free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections.

The ministers made no reference to the status of Guaido or that of the assembly. A previous EU statement referred to them as “outgoing,” and this angered the Venezuelan opposition, which believed it sent mixed messages about Maduro’s legitimacy.

Monday's statement said that the EU considers Guaidó and other opposition officials “to be important actors and privileged interlocutors” and urged them “to take a unified stance with a view to an inclusive process of dialogue and negotiation.”

The ministers also said that given the deteriorating rights situation and problems with the rule of law in Venezuela that “the EU stands ready to adopt additional targeted restrictive measures against those undermining democracy or the rule of law and those responsible for serious violations of human rights.”

They said the measures "are designed not to harm the Venezuelan population and can be reversed.”

The EU has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on dozens of officials until at least Nov. 14. It has also slapped an arms embargo on Venezuela and outlawed the supply of equipment that could be used in any crackdown on civilians.

Last week, the Trump administration announced a sweeping round of stiff financial sanctions that target a network accused of moving oil on behalf of Maduro’s alleged frontman, Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman.