Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, the EU is co-ordinating with Uruguay. The EU has set up a contact group to focus on peaceful democratic solutions. That is the contribution it is making. The Deputies appear to be focused solely on the US approach to this, but it is important to point out that the EU has made its own statements and decisions regarding Venezuela and how we should respond to a totally unacceptable deterioration of conditions that has resulted in 3 million refugees leaving that country. That is destabilising its neighbouring states as well. This is not just about Venezuela but the impact of what is happening in Venezuela on neighbouring states, the region and even on the EU. The number of Venezuelans who have come to Spain, for example, in the past three years is very significant. Whether we like it or not, this issue is impacting on everybody and the EU, as a significant contributor to the foreign policy debate, had to take a position. Unlike Deputy Crowe, the EU and I do not recognise that the last presidential election was free and fair and that President Maduro was legitimately elected.

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