Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/88Show full title

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/88

of 22 January 2018

implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela(1), and in particular Article 17(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 13 November 2017 the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/2063.

(2) On 13 November 2017 the Council adopted conclusions on Venezuela, reaffirming that constructive dialogue and negotiation are the only sustainable way to address the current crisis and to respond to the pressing needs of the people of Venezuela.

(3) The Council, underscoring its concerns with regard to the situation in the country, adopted restrictive measures and noted that those measures would be used in a gradual and flexible manner and could be expanded, by targeting those involved in the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law and the violation of human rights.

(4) In view of the continuing deterioration of the situation in Venezuela, seven persons should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063.

(5) Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 22 January 2018.

For the Council

The President

F. Mogherini

ANNEX

The following persons are added to the list of persons and entities set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063:

	Name	Identifying information	Reasons	Date of listing
‘1.	Néstor Luis Reverol Torres	Date of birth: 28 October 1964	Minister for Interior, Justice and Peace; former Commander General of the Bolivarian National Guard. Responsible for serious human rights violations and repression of the democratic opposition in Venezuela, including the prohibition and repression of political demonstrations.	22.1.2018
2.	Gustavo Enrique González López	Date of birth: 2 November 1960	Head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Responsible for serious human rights violations (including arbitrary detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, and torture) and repression of civil society and the democratic opposition in Venezuela.	22.1.2018
3.	Tibisay Lucena Ramírez	Date of birth: 26 April 1959	President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral – CNE). Her actions and policies have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by facilitating the establishment of the Constituent Assembly by failing to ensure that the CNE remains an impartial and independent institution in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution.	22.1.2018
4.	Antonio José Benavides Torres	Date of birth: 13 June 1961	Chief of the Capital District (Distrito Capital) Government. General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 21 June 2017. Involved in repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Venezuela, and responsible for serious human rights violations committed by the Bolivarian National Guard under his command. His actions and policies as General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, including the Bolivarian National Guard taking the lead in the policing of civilian demonstrations and publicly advocating that military courts should have jurisdiction over civilians, have undermined the rule of law in Venezuela.	22.1.2018
5.	Maikel José Moreno Pérez	Date of birth: 12 December 1965	President, and former Vice President, of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia). In these roles, he has supported and facilitated the Government's actions and policies which have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and is responsible for actions and statements that have usurped the authority of the National Assembly.	22.1.2018
6.	Tarek William Saab Halabi	Date of birth: 10 September 1963	Venezuelan Attorney General appointed by the Constituent Assembly. In this role and previous roles as Ombudsman and President of the Republican Moral Council, he has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela by publicly supporting actions against opponents of the Government and the withdrawal of competences from the National Assembly.	22.1.2018
7.	Diosdado Cabello Rondón	Date of birth: 15 April 1963	Member of the Constituent Assembly and First Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Involved in undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by using the media to publicly attack and threaten political opposition, other media and civil society.	22.1.2018’

(1)

OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 21.