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Venezuela and the European Union have taken a new step toward re-establishing their political relations by holding a high-level meeting in Caracas, during which both parties agreed on a working agenda for mutual cooperation.
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The meeting took place at the Federal Legislative Palace and was chaired by the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, alongside representatives of the European External Action Service.
According to Rodríguez, the meeting made it possible to establish a roadmap focused on “productive development”.
“We have established a working agenda for productive development,” he said, without offering more details on the sectors involved.
On the European side, the Deputy Director General for the Americas of the European External Action Service, Pelayo Castro Zuzuárregui, the European Union’s Chargé d’Affaires in Venezuela, María Antonia Calvo Puerta, and Adriana Vázquez, head of the division for South America, took part in the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the first vice-president of the Parliament, Pedro Infante, and the Venezuelan deputy minister for North America and Europe, Oliver Blanco.
The parliamentary dialogue is in addition to the meetings held this week between European representatives and members of the Venezuelan executive, including a meeting with the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, focused on moving towards a new stage of “cordial and productive” relations, according to state television VTV.
This institutional shift comes as the Venezuelan opposition pursues its own intense diplomatic agenda in Europe. Led by María Corina Machado, the group has held talks with several European leaders.
Machado is also scheduled to receive the Gold Medal of the Community of Madrid this Saturday.
IMF and World Bank
The context for the rapprochement with the EU coincides with a key turning point in the economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank announced this week the resumption of their relations with Venezuela, which had been suspended since 2019 due to issues with government recognition.
The interim president welcomed the decision and denounced that “Venezuelan extremism” tried to stop the country’s return to the financial bodies during recent visits to European capitals.
“It is very regrettable that they have tried to prevent such an important step for our economy,” she said on state television.
Rodríguez described the resumption of relations as “a very important step for the Venezuelan economy” and thanked the United States and several mediating countries for their support.
For Caracas, normalisation with the IMF and the World Bank reinforces the process of international reintegration, which it now seeks to consolidate in the political arena with the European Union as well.
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