Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1586 of 26 September 2019 implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1586of 26 September 2019implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in VenezuelaTHE 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 VenezuelaOJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 21., 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 16 July 2019, the High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the Union which stated that the political crisis and economic collapse in Venezuela continued to take a heavy toll in the population as illustrated by the fleeing of 4 million people from Venezuela and that the crisis also remained a major source of instability for the region.(3)The Declaration underlined that the recently published report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN HCHR) ("the report") confirmed in a clear and detailed manner, the extent and seriousness of the human rights violations, the erosion of the rule of law and the dismantlement of democratic institutions in Venezuela. Moreover, the Declaration mentioned the tragic death of Captain Acosta Arévalo while in the custody of the Venezuelan security forces as a stark example of the continued deterioration of the human rights situation.(4)The Union has strongly supported the findings of the report and has called upon the regime for an immediate halt of the widespread human rights violations and to engage in full cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all UN Special Procedures to secure the implementation of the recommendations in the report. The Union has also indicated that it is ready to start work towards applying targeted measures for those members of the security forces involved in torture and other serious violations of human rights.(5)In light of the continuing grave situation in Venezuela, as also reported by the UN HCHR, and the responsibility for serious human rights violations, including torture, committed by parts of the Venezuelan security and intelligence forces in support of the regime, 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.(6)Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 should therefore be amended accordingly,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: