In 2019, I visited as Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs the Simon Bolivar bridge, a 300 metres long bridge spanning Venezuela and Colombia. The bridge is named after the Venezuelan statesman and it was until the Venezuelan economic crisis a popular crossing point for citizens to shop across the border. Today, the bridge is a point where many Venezuelan refugees start the journey to look for a better future. At the time, I could witness the dire situations that many Venezuelans migrants and refugees are escaping from and the risks and misery they face. 5 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have by now sought safety and new opportunities across the world, mostly in neighbouring countries. During my visit, I was already appointed as EU High Representative and was committed to organise European and international support for the refuges and migrants. The visit at the crossing over the Táchira River confirmed how badly this is needed.

Hoy es el Día Internacional contra la Homofobia, la Transfobia y la Bifobia. Por ello, quisiera dedicar esta publicación a las personas que siguen sufriendo discriminación y violencia por su identidad y porque no pueden vivir libremente y amar según su elección. Más concretamente, me gustaría rendir homenaje a la comunidad de personas lesbianas, gais, bisexuales, transgénero e intersexuales (LGBTI+) y a todos los activistas LGBTI+ que defienden el derecho a ser uno mismo.