The European Union repudiated the expulsion of MEPs to Venezuela and warned that she was still sending a mission

EU foreign ministers on Monday condemned the Venezuelan regime's veto of Nicolás Maduro to several MEPs They discussed preparations for the technical mission to Caracas this week dialogue with all parties and support the convening of fair presidential elections.

"During the Council, we discussed the case and expressed our joint condemnation. We have not discussed the possibility for the EU to interrupt the work of the international contact group "said at a press conference at the end of the ministerial meeting the EU's high representative for foreign policy, Federica Mogherini.

"On the contrary, all Member States have reaffirmed that it is important to have this instrument, which is probably the only one currently we can use to get in touch with the parties concerned simultaneously and clearly define the objective democratic and peaceful outcome of the early elections. "he added.

The news of the rejection at the Venezuelan border of several MEPs from the European People's Party who wanted to meet the interim president, Juan GuaidóHe played a role in the ministers' discussions.

"Until now, there are no difficulties" for the technical mission, confirmed the Italian policy, which trusted this delegation, led by the EU and the US. Uruguay, "to have contacts with all the different parties involved, with the clear aim of preparing, to open a space for a democratic and peaceful solution to the crisis with the holding of new presidential elections.

Mogherini said that the head of the EU delegation in Caracas had taken part in the contacts to let parliamentarians, along with the ambbadadors of the member states, "We knew that access would be denied."

"I regret that they were not allowed to enter the country. I think it would have been good to discuss and hold relevant meetings "he remarked.

The Head of Community Diplomacy emphasized in all cases that the international contact group was progressing and recalled that it had been created "at the request of the European Parliament, which approved a resolution inviting me in January to create this group ".

In the same spirit, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who baderted that he "will not leave the political crisis in Venezuela if it is through presidential elections subject to democratic guarantees".

"This democratic solution, for us, has been entrusted to Mr. Guaidó, since he has the legitimacy to organize these presidential elections today," he said, referring to the leader. of the opposition parliament who proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela after rejecting Maduro's reelection. elections that are not considered "fraudulent" by a large part of the international community.

Drian also "strongly" condemned the rejection of Venezuelan authorities by MEPs, like the Spanish holder of external and cooperation, Josep Borrell, who however asked to distinguish between the special trip of these deputies and the official missions that the European Parliament sends.

He stated that Spain "had done everything possible" to be allowed to enter, but that it was considered "disproportionate to take diplomatic measures of a transcendental nature such as the cancellation of diplomatic relations".

Borrell said the contact group's mission will be in Caracas from 21 to 23 February., date on which Guaidó intends to distribute humanitarian aid sent by the international community to the country's borders.

"Humanitarian aid should be distributed with the principles that govern it: neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity "said the Spanish minister who said "worried" that the main NGOs, such as the Red Cross or Cáritas, "decided not to participate in this operation".

On the concentration of US troops on the Venezuelan border, Borrell said that it was "an unconfirmed news" and that "It is possible" that they organize humanitarian aid.

However, he recalled: "We do not share" the views expressed by the Vice President of the United States (Mike Pence) during the conference on security in Munich last weekend ", to the extent that we do not are not in favor of a military intervention. "

Unlike the United States, he insisted, "for us, Guaidó is the president we recognize as the unelected interim president, who has a specific and concrete job of organizing elections."

Moreover, the EU Council approved the conclusions on human rights priorities for this year, in which he indicated that he will closely follow "with many of the 39, "the cases of torture, enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings committed in Nicaragua and Venezuela, to which he had asked to investigate them" effectively, impartially and transparently "and to prosecute those responsible.