VENEZUELA/NETHERLANDS/EU: EU PESSIMISTIC BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003005 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM VE NL EUN SUBJECT: VENEZUELA/NETHERLANDS/EU: EU PESSIMISTIC BUT INCONCLUSIVE REF: A. A) BRUSSELS 4661 ¶B. B) STATE 223273 Classified By: Pol Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b/d) (C) Dutch desk officer for South America Dimitri Vogelaar told poloff November 17 that EU participants at the November 16 COLAT meeting reached agreement on the analysis presented by EU Heads of Mission (HOMs) in Caracas, but that concrete actions would not be discussed until December. According to Vogelaar, the HOMs report painted a pessimistic political and economic picture: it described a serious lack of democratic values in Venezuelan society, an institutional politicization of the judiciary, an opposition failing to address basic societal needs including poverty reduction and sustainable development, a macroeconomic dependence on oil, and an unsustainable business environment. Vogelaar noted that participants were relieved about the postponement of the Sumate hearing, which they felt continued to constitute a "worrisome development," but they did not reach agreement on the appropriate manner in which to address the issue -- some members favored a troika demarche on the GOV while others favored issuing "another" declaration. Reaching agreement on the situation's analysis, but lacking consensus for a way forward, EU Heads of Mission were asked to present concrete recommendations at the next COLAT meeting to be held December ¶14. SOBEL