WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Venezuela — unemployment and referendum.
Date: 2003-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, EU relations, Venezuela, political situation, referendum, unemployment

C 88 E/370

Official Journal of the European Union

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8.4.2004

up in these centres with inadequate facilities, as conditions in the resettlement areas are not in place.
However, with the numbers of ex-fighters (and family members) turning out to be much higher then
envisaged in the Memorandum of Understanding of April 2002 (approx. 105,000 ex-fighters instead of
55,000), the government has a valid explanation for some of the problems encountered.

The Commission is convinced that the emergency demobilisation and reintegration program (ADRP) worth
an estimated USD 180 million, which the Government has prepared and negotiated with the World Bank,
will address and resolve these problems. As mentioned in the answer to the Honourable Member’s written
question E-1678/03 (1),
in the ADRP through its contribution of
EUR 20 million to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund within the framework of the Multi-country Demobilisation
and Re-Integration Program (MDRP).

the Commission participates

In addition to the Commission’s engagement in the ADRP, ex-UNITA soldiers and their families also
benefit from the distribution of seeds, tools and food aid from the EUR 30 million Emergency Programme
to Support the Peace Programme. UNITA ex-combatants and their families have also benefited from
emergency nutrition and health interventions financed by the Community. Furthermore the Commission’s
support programme for reconstruction (Programa de Apoio a Reconstrução), which is the main rural
rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in Angola (EUR 55 million) and targets the improvement of
access to basic social services mainly in the central highlands, will also benefit returning ex-UNITA soldiers
and their families. The Commission is currently considering a financial contribution from the 9th European
Development Fund (EDF) to the FAS (Fondo de Apoio Social). The objective of this fund (now in its 3rd
phase) is to achieve improved, expanded and sustainable utilisation of basic social and economic services
and to support a governance system where local government and communities are mutually accountable.

On a final note it should be mentioned that,
in general, discrimination between the different groups
(ex-combatants, internally displaced persons, returning refugees, etc.) is not advisable, as it is likely to cause
tensions between these groups. That said, UNITA is of course a special case, and preferential treatment of
the ex-combatants and their families in the interest of
the peace process is
unavoidable. The situation is, however, sensitive and needs to be handled with care. The Commission is
open to a joint management of specific programmes by the government and UNITA.

the consolidation of

(1) See page 39.

(2004/C 88 E/0376)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(27 May 2003)

Subject: Venezuela (cid:1) unemployment and referendum

According to Venezuelan media reports, the unemployment rate now stands at 22,6 % in the country and
792 811 people lost their jobs in the last year.

There are regular reports of political confusion in Venezuela and a general climate of social conflict
between supporters of President Chávez and the opposition, and there are indications that Mr Chávez is
seeking in various ways to prevent the holding of a referendum on the possible revocation of his mandate.

Having regard to the European Parliament’s resolution of 13 February 2003, will the Commission answer
the following questions:

(cid:1) What information does it have regarding the political, social and economic situation in Venezuela?

(cid:1) What developments is it expecting in the medium and long term?

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(cid:1) Has the Commission taken any measures to deal with the repercussions of the Venezuelan crisis on

immigrant communities from the Member States?

(cid:1) Is the Commission considering the possibility of assisting these nationals of Member States and their

children should the situation deteriorate?

(cid:1) What information does it have regarding the measures taken by the Venezuelan President and his
government to make the necessary arrangements for the holding of the revocation referendum?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

the government. Representatives of

Venezuela continues to have an unstable political situation, with society deeply divided between supporters
and opponents of
the government and opposition signed an
Agreement on 29 May 2003. The Agreement contains the three main points included in the agenda of
the Negotiating Table: support for an electoral solution; investigation of the events of April 2002; and
disarming the civilian population. The agreement opens the door to a referendum, provided for in the
Constitution, and thus paves the way for a ‘constitutional, peaceful, democratic and electoral’ solution,
which the international community, including the Union, has demanded.

It is difficult to forecast how the situation in Venezuela will develop. The procedure envisages the
appointment of the members of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Its five members will have to be
appointed by the National Assembly, where it may not be easy to reach agreement. It is not clear if the
signatures already collected by the opposition, when they attempted to bring about a non-binding
referendum in February 2003 against President Chávez staying in office, will be considered valid by the
CNE, once established. If this is not the case, the opposition will have to launch a new attempt to collect
the signatures needed to call the referendum. These will have to be validated and confirmed to be the right
percentage (i.e. at least 20 % of registered voters) by the new CNE. President Chávez has declared that he
will respect Article 72 of the Constitution and the Agreement. He insists that the referendum should not be
limited to the President but include other elected authorities. Calling early elections remains another
possibility for President Chávez.

In parallel, the economy is suffering a grave economic crisis with important social consequences. The
forecast for 2003 is one of an economic contraction of 15 % with a jump in unemployment, now standing
at around 20 %.

The Commission is closely following the political situation. The Union has fully supported the
Organisation of American States (OAS), and the tripartite working group together with the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Carter Centre, and the Group of Friends, in their efforts to
facilitate a national dialogue. The Union, in several Declarations, has emphasised the need for a peaceful,
democratic, constitutional and electoral solution. In the last declaration, 5 June 2003, the Union welcomes
the Venezuelan Government and opposition’s signing of a political agreement on 29 May 2003 and called
upon all parties to proceed without delay to the necessary follow-up needed to implement the Agreement.
It also stressed that the Union stands ready to assist in the implementation of the agreement.

In response to the current crisis, the Commission has signed a project to assist the OAS in its efforts to
implement possible agreements reached between the parties of the OAS mediated dialogue. The project
amounts to EUR 600 000. It includes the three components of the Agreement: support for an electoral
solution, investigation of the events of April 2002, and disarming the civilian population. In addition,
Venezuela is on the list of countries proposed by the Commission as priorities for possible Election
Observation, in the event that an electoral consultation takes place. The final decision on whether to send
an Election Observation Mission would be made on the basis of an Exploratory Mission which would
assess whether a EU observation is advisable, useful and feasible. The decision on sending on Exploratory
Mission will be made once the further electoral process is clarified.

No specific actions to protect Union citizens in Venezuela have been taken at the Union level. Their
protection and support is normally ensured by their Member States of origin.