Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/43 of 9 January 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela
Date: 2025-01-09
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Venezuela, economic sanctions, international sanctions, natural person








L_202500043EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/43


10.1.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/43
         
of 9 January 2025
         
amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 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 Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 (1).












(2)


On 13 May 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/1339 (2) renewing the restrictive measures set out in Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 until 10 January 2025. Decision (CFSP) 2024/1339 also suspended the travel restrictions applied to four natural persons included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074.












(3)


On the basis of a review of Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074, and considering the deepening political crisis in Venezuela, the persistent actions undermining democracy and the rule of law, as well as continued human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, including in relation to the conduct of and developments following the Presidential Elections of 28 July 2024 in Venezuela, the restrictive measures set out in that Decision should be renewed until 10 January 2026.












(4)


Moreover, it is appropriate to lift the suspension on the travel restrictions introduced by Decision (CFSP) 2024/1339.












(5)


Furthermore, the entries for 14 natural persons set out in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 should be updated.












(6)


Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 is amended as follows:






(1)


in Article 6, paragraph 1a is deleted;










(2)


in Article 13, the first paragraph is replaced by the following:
‘This Decision shall apply until 10 January 2026.’;









(3)


Annex I is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.






Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




Done at Brussels, 9 January 2025.


For the Council


The President

A. SZŁAPKA
            





(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 60, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/2074/oj).

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1339 of 13 May 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L, 2024/1339, 14.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1339/oj).




ANNEX
Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 is amended as follows:






(1)


in the ‘List of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Articles 6(1) and 7(1)’, entries number 1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 29, 37, 48 and 52 are replaced by the following:









 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘1.


Néstor Luis REVEROL TORRES


Date of birth: 28 October 1964
Gender: male


President of the Zuliana Region Development Corporation (Corpozulia) since April 2024. Former Minister for Electrical Energy (October 2020 – April 2024), Vice-President of Public Works and Services and Executive Secretary of the Electrical General Staff (April 2019 – April 2024). Minister for Interior, Justice and Peace from 2016 until October 2020. General in Chief of the Bolivarian National Guard since August 2020. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including the torture of (political) prisoners, and the repression of the democratic opposition in Venezuela, including the prohibition and repression of political demonstrations, committed by security forces under his command.


22.1.2018




2.


Gustavo Enrique GONZÁLEZ LÓPEZ


Date of birth: 2 November 1960
Gender: male


General Director of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) between April 2019 and October 2024. Security and Intelligence Adviser to President Maduro since January 2019, and General Director of SEBIN from February 2014 to October 2018. During the times he has served as SEBIN director, officials under his ultimate authority committed acts of arbitrary detention, torture and cruel and inhuman treatment, including sexual violence, in El Helicoide detention centre. As General Director of SEBIN, he is responsible for serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, and torture, and the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition in Venezuela.


22.1.2018




7.


Diosdado CABELLO RONDÓN


Date of birth: 15 April 1963
Gender: male


Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace since August 2024. Member of the non-democratically elected National Assembly, former President 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 and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, including by using the media to publicly attack and threaten political opposition, other media and civil society and giving orders to detain individuals, including to the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN).


22.1.2018




9.


Sergio José RIVERO MARCANO


Date of birth: 8 November 1964
Gender: male


Inspector General of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) until July 2023, General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 16 January 2018, placed in “active reserve” in July 2023. Involved in the 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, including the excessive use of force, and the arbitrary detention and abuse of civil society and opposition members. His actions and policies as General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, including the Bolivarian National Guard assaulting members of the democratically elected National Assembly and intimidating journalists reporting on the fraudulent elections for the illegitimate Constituent Assembly, have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.


25.6.2018




11.


Iván HERNÁNDEZ DALA


Date of birth: 18 May 1966
Gender: male


Major-General in FANB. Director-General of the Directorate-General for Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) between January 2014 and October 2024 and Head of the Presidential Guard between September 2015 and October 2024. As Head of the DGCIM, Iván Hernández Dala is responsible for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition and for serious human rights violations committed by members of the DGCIM under his command, including torture, the use of excessive force and the ill-treatment of detainees.


25.6.2018




12.


Delcy Eloina RODRÍGUEZ GÓMEZ


Date of birth: 18 May 1969
Gender: female


Vice-President of Venezuela, and since August 2024, Minister of Oil. Former Minister of the Economy, Finances and Trade. Former President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and former member of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Her actions in the Presidential Commission and then as President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including usurping the powers of the National Assembly and using them to target the opposition and to prevent them from taking part in the political process.


25.6.2018




14.


Sandra OBLITAS RUZZA


Date of birth: 7 June 1969
Gender: female


Minister of University Education until August 2024. Rector of the Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela appointed in July 2020. Former Vice President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and former President of the Commission of the Electoral and Civilian Register. Responsible for CNE activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including by facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and the manipulation of the electoral process.


25.6.2018




17.


Socorro Elizabeth HERNÁNDEZ DE HERNÁNDEZ


Date of birth: 11 March 1952
Gender: female


Member (Rector) of the National Electoral Council (CNE) until 12 June 2020 and member of the National Electoral Board (JNE). Responsible for the CNE’s activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process in relation to a cancelled presidential recall election in 2016, postponement of gubernatorial elections in 2016, and the relocation of polling stations at short notice before gubernatorial elections in 2017.


25.6.2018




18.


Xavier Antonio MORENO REYES


Gender: male


Secretary-General of the National Electoral Council (CNE) from 2009 until June 2020. In that role, Moreno Reyes facilitated, legitimised and gave credibility to CNE decisions, since the Secretary-General of the CNE has a role in agenda-setting and formalising decisions. Moreno Reyes remained Secretary-General of CNE while democracy was severely undermined and the independent role of the CNE within the electoral process was compromised. He is therefore responsible for undermining democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and the manipulation of the electoral process.


25.6.2018




20.


Rafael Ramón BLANCO MARRERO


Date of birth: 28 February 1968
ID number: V-6250588
Gender: male


Inspector-General of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army since July 2023. Former Division General of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army (July 2019 – July 2023). Former deputy Director of the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)). Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities, that were committed by DGCIM officials under his command. Linked to the death of Captain Acosta.


27.9.2019




29.


Elvis Eduardo HIDROBO AMOROSO


Date of birth: 4 August 1963
Place of birth: Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela
ID number: V-7659695
Gender: male


President of the National Electoral Commission of Venezuela (CNE) since 24 August 2023. Former Comptroller-General (between 23 October 2018 and August 2023), and former First and Second Vice-President of the non-recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by banning opposition members from holding public office for 15 years and leading the non-recognised ANC, signing the “law against hatred”, justifying the removal of a legally-elected opposition governor, banning Juan Guaidó from running for any public office, and announcing the results of the Presidential election held in July 2024, without the CNE under his leadership publishing the official voting records of polling stations.


29.6.2020




37.


Remigio CEBALLOS ICHASO


Date of birth: 1 May 1963
ID-number: V-6557495
Gender: male


Former Minister of the Interior and Justice of Venezuela (August 2021 – August 2024) and Vice-President of the Government for Citizen Security. Former Commander of the Operational and Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela (Comando Estratégico Operacional Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales Bolivarianas (CEOFANB)), the highest organ in the Venezuelan Armed Forces (June 2017 – July 2021). CEOFANB controls the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the Bolivarian National Guard. CEOFANB is also responsible for coordinating FANB interventions in demonstrations. In his position as Commander of CEOFANB, he was responsible for serious human rights violations, including the use of excessive force and inhuman and degrading treatment by officials of the FANB and by subordinate forces under his command, including the Bolivarian National Guard. Various sources, including the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, attribute human rights violations to FANB and the Bolivarian National Guard.


22.2.2021




48.


Leonardo Enrique MORALES POLEO


Gender: male


Former Vice-President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) and President of the Political Participation and Financing Commission (August 2020 – May 2021). Leonardo Enrique Morales Poleo was appointed Vice-President of the CNE and President of the Political Participation and Financing Commission on 7 August 2020 by the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) although this prerogative belongs to the National Assembly. Moreover, just prior to his appointment he served in the Advanced Progressive Party (Avanzada progresista). As member (rector) and Vice-President of the CNE, he fully took part in the decision-making process of the CNE. He supported and facilitated the supervision of the electoral process that led to the non-democratic elections of the National Assembly on 6 December 2020. His actions have therefore further undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. Leonardo Enrique Morales Poleo accepted to be appointed to the CNE and remained in his position as Vice-President of the CNE while democracy was severely undermined in Venezuela.


22.2.2021




52.


Jesús Emilio VÁSQUEZ QUINTERO


ID-number: V-7422049
Gender: male


Former President of the Court Martial and the Military Criminal Judicial Circuit (September 2021 – August 2024). Division General since 5 July 2019 and former Attorney General of the Military Prosecutor’s Office (December 2017 – 17 September 2021). As Attorney General of the Military Prosecutor’s Office, responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The Military Prosecutor’s Office has been linked to internal judicial prosecution in the Armed Forces, and failures to investigate incidents, including the case of the death of Captain Acosta in 2019. Moreover, military justice is being applied to civilians.


22.2.2021’;














(2)


the following sentence is deleted after the table:

                        ‘* Article 6(1) shall not apply to entries identified with an asterisk.’.







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/43/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)