Debate: Situation in Nicaragua
Date: TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 2023
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: EN

It shows the importance that the European Parliament gives to the situation in Nicaragua. And rightly so. Allow me to thank you for this continued and strong interest and to reiterate that I fully share your concerns regarding the continuously deteriorating human rights situation in this country. You know that the European Union position has been clear and consistent in its strong condemnation of the systematic repression that the people of Nicaragua is suffering. We have repeatedly been calling for the liberation of all political prisoners with the return to the rule of law, return of international human rights organisations in the country and for the dialogue between the regime and the opposition. This is a long story. We first introduced sanctions in October 2019. It was still not there. It was at that time Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain paying the same attention to the Nicaragua situation that you were doing here in Brussels and Strasbourg. In October 2019, the Council repeatedly expressed its concerns about the political and social situation in the country. Restrictive measures now apply to a total of 21 persons and three entities. And, as you know, these measures are targeted and designed not to harm the Nicaraguan population, but those responsible of the dire situation the people in Nicaragua is suffering. I would like to underline also our continued commitment to the Nicaraguan people and to defend democracy and human rights, which is as important as ever, following the release and deportation of 222 political prisoners early this year that were deprived of their nationality. Indeed, we hoped that the release of political prisoners would mark the beginning of a dialogue with the regime and an end to Nicaragua’s authoritarian spiral. Regrettably, shortly after such release, the regime revoked all 222 deportees of their Nicaraguan citizenship. It also further stripped 94 other Nicaraguans of their nationality and confiscated their property. All for opposing the Ortega-Murillo regime. We can no longer call it the Ortega regime, it is more and more the Ortega-Murillo regime, or maybe Murillo alone. That is why it’s important to continue supporting the people of Nicaragua, including through our development cooperation. The wider population and particularly vulnerable groups, such as women, children, youth and indigenous people, should not suffer twice for the actions of the repressive and undemocratic regime. I want to use this opportunity to reassure you that the European Union, since the beginning of the socio-political crisis in April 2018, does not provide support to the Nicaraguan authorities, nor does it channel funds directly through the Government. While the space of the civil society has shrunk drastically, our commitment to deliver cooperation activities and support those in need remains intact, because we don’t want to punish Nicaraguan people twice. Rest assured, the European Union institutions and its Member States will continue to monitor the socio-political economic situation in the country, through our delegation in Managua in particular. And we will also continue to support the legitimate demands of the Nicaraguan people for their human rights and for the return of democracy. Thank you for putting Nicaragua’s case again in the agenda of the European Parliament. I am looking forward to the debate. I hope that this will be heard on the other side of the Atlantic.