Republican Senators Urge EU to Strengthen Venezuela Sanctions

Republican senators urged the European Union to increase sanctions on the Nicolas Maduro-led regime in Venezuela, saying in a letter the EU should “align its sanctions regime” with that of the U.S. and Canada, according to an Aug. 8 Senate Foreign Relations Committee press release. The senators said the U.S. and Canada have imposed sanctions on more than 200 Venezuelan government officials, and the EU’s support would “send a powerful message” to Maduro.

“The European Union’s past sanctions on more than a dozen Venezuelan officials involved in human rights abuses and undermining democracy were an important signal, but we believe the continuing crisis merits immediate and increased pressure from democratic leaders in Europe,” the letter said.