EU readies sanctions on Venezuela, approves arms embargoBRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers approved economic sanctions, including an arms embargo, on Venezuela on Monday, saying regional elections last month marred by reported irregularities had deepened the country s crisis. Anxious not to push Caracas any closer to economic and political collapse as debt restructuring talks begin, EU governments held back from targeting any individuals. The bloc instead left names for a later stage to try to persuade President Nicholas Maduro to calm the situation.  Everything we do is aimed at seeking dialogue between the government and the opposition to find a democratic and peaceful solution,  Spain s Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis told reporters at a meeting with his counterparts where the sanctions decision was made. Venezuelan opposition leaders said last week they would resume efforts to hold a dialogue with Maduro, even though they say he previously used such talks to stall for time instead of implementing serious reform. Over the weekend, Maduro had termed imminent sanctions by the bloc as  stupid.   On Monday, his government said the  illegal  and  absurd  EU measures were a violation of international norms.   The European institutions show their lamentable and shameful subordination to the U.S. government,  it added. Spain has long pushed for sanctions on those close to Maduro, whom Washington accuses of installing a dictatorship and slapped sanctions on in July. But the EU has been divided over whom to target. The arms embargo adds Venezuela to an EU list that includes North Korea and Syria, where European defense companies can no longer do business and to which the sale of any goods deemed as being used for repression are also banned. Britain sold 1.4 million pounds ($1.83 million) worth of arms to Venezuela between May 2010 and March 2017, according to The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which lobbies to end arms sales to repressive governments. In a joint statement, all 28 EU ministers said the legal basis for individual travel bans to the EU and the freezing of any Venezuelan assets in the bloc  will be used in a gradual and flexible manner and can be expanded.  Representatives of Maduro s government were due to meet investors in Caracas on Monday to discuss renegotiating $60 billion in foreign debt. Some EU governments want to give former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the EU s main envoy for Venezuela, another chance to try negotiations despite unsuccessful efforts in 2016. But in the statement, ministers said regional elections held in Venezuela on Oct. 15 were a turning point that had hardened the bloc s position, having taken place amid  reported numerous irregularities.   The results appeared to favor Maduro s ruling Socialists, while polls had suggested the opposition would easily win a majority. In the end it won only a handful of governorships, according to the pro-government electoral board. EU ministers will decide whom to target with sanctions at a later stage, but said they would focus on security forces and government ministers and institutions accused of human rights violations and the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law. Experts say individual U.S. sanctions spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, while providing strong symbolism, have had little or no impact on Maduro s policies and that oil-sector and financial sanctions may be the only way to force the Venezuelan government to change. worldnews
eu readies sanctions venezuela approves arms embargobrussels reuters european union foreign ministers approved economic sanctions including arms embargo venezuela monday saying regional elections last month marred reported irregularities deepened country crisis anxious push cracks closer economic political collapse debt restructuring talks begin eu governments held back targeting individuals the bloc instead left names later stage try persuade president nicholas maduro calm situation everything aimed seeking dialogue government opposition find democratic peaceful solution spain foreign minister alfonso dates told reporters meeting counterparts sanctions decision made venezuela opposition leaders said last week would resume efforts hold dialogue maduro even though say previously used talks stall time instead implementing serious reform over weekend maduro termed imminent sanctions bloc stupid on monday government said illegal absurd eu measures violation international norms the european institutions show amenable shameful subordination government added spain long pushed sanctions close maduro washington accuses installing dictatorship slapped sanctions july but eu divided target the arms embargo adds venezuela eu list includes north korea syria european defense companies longer business sale goods deemed used repression also banned britain sold million pounds million worth arms venezuela may march according the campaign against arms trade cat lobbies end arms sales repressive governments in joint statement eu ministers said legal basis individual travel bans eu freezing venezuela assets bloc used gradual flexible manner expanded representatives maduro government due meet investors cracks monday discuss negotiating billion foreign debt some eu governments want give former spanish prime minister jose luis rodriguez zapatero eu main envoy venezuela another chance try negotiations despite unsuccessful efforts but statement ministers said regional elections held venezuela turning point hardened bloc position taken place amid reported numerous irregularities the results appeared favor maduro ruling socialists polls suggested opposition would easily win majority in end handful governorship according electoral board eu ministers decide target sanctions later stage said would focus security forces government ministers institutions accused human rights violations democratic principles rule law experts say individual sanctions spearheaded president donald trump providing strong symbolism little impact maduro policies financial sanctions may way force venezuela government change worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: EU readies sanctions on Venezuela, approves arms embargoBRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers approved economic sanctions, including an arms embargo, on Venezuela on Monday, saying regional elections last month marred by reported irregularities had deepened the country s crisis. Anxious not to push Caracas any closer to economic and political collapse as debt restructuring talks begin, EU governments held back from targeting any individuals. The bloc instead left names for a later stage to try to persuade President Nicholas Maduro to calm the situation.  Everything we do is aimed at seeking dialogue between the government and the opposition to find a democratic and peaceful solution,  Spain s Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis told reporters at a meeting with his counterparts where the sanctions decision was made. Venezuelan opposition leaders said last week they would resume efforts to hold a dialogue with Maduro, even though they say he previously used such talks to stall for time instead of implementing serious reform. Over the weekend, Maduro had termed imminent sanctions by the bloc as  stupid.   On Monday, his government said the  illegal  and  absurd  EU measures were a violation of international norms.   The European institutions show their lamentable and shameful subordination to the U.S. government,  it added. Spain has long pushed for sanctions on those close to Maduro, whom Washington accuses of installing a dictatorship and slapped sanctions on in July. But the EU has been divided over whom to target. The arms embargo adds Venezuela to an EU list that includes North Korea and Syria, where European defense companies can no longer do business and to which the sale of any goods deemed as being used for repression are also banned. Britain sold 1.4 million pounds ($1.83 million) worth of arms to Venezuela between May 2010 and March 2017, according to The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which lobbies to end arms sales to repressive governments. In a joint statement, all 28 EU ministers said the legal basis for individual travel bans to the EU and the freezing of any Venezuelan assets in the bloc  will be used in a gradual and flexible manner and can be expanded.  Representatives of Maduro s government were due to meet investors in Caracas on Monday to discuss renegotiating $60 billion in foreign debt. Some EU governments want to give former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the EU s main envoy for Venezuela, another chance to try negotiations despite unsuccessful efforts in 2016. But in the statement, ministers said regional elections held in Venezuela on Oct. 15 were a turning point that had hardened the bloc s position, having taken place amid  reported numerous irregularities.   The results appeared to favor Maduro s ruling Socialists, while polls had suggested the opposition would easily win a majority. In the end it won only a handful of governorships, according to the pro-government electoral board. EU ministers will decide whom to target with sanctions at a later stage, but said they would focus on security forces and government ministers and institutions accused of human rights violations and the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law. Experts say individual U.S. sanctions spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, while providing strong symbolism, have had little or no impact on Maduro s policies and that oil-sector and financial sanctions may be the only way to force the Venezuelan government to change. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: eu readies sanctions venezuela approves arms embargobrussels reuters european union foreign ministers approved economic sanctions including arms embargo venezuela monday saying regional elections last month marred reported irregularities deepened country crisis anxious push cracks closer economic political collapse debt restructuring talks begin eu governments held back targeting individuals the bloc instead left names later stage try persuade president nicholas maduro calm situation everything aimed seeking dialogue government opposition find democratic peaceful solution spain foreign minister alfonso dates told reporters meeting counterparts sanctions decision made venezuela opposition leaders said last week would resume efforts hold dialogue maduro even though say previously used talks stall time instead implementing serious reform over weekend maduro termed imminent sanctions bloc stupid on monday government said illegal absurd eu measures violation international norms the european institutions show amenable shameful subordination government added spain long pushed sanctions close maduro washington accuses installing dictatorship slapped sanctions july but eu divided target the arms embargo adds venezuela eu list includes north korea syria european defense companies longer business sale goods deemed used repression also banned britain sold million pounds million worth arms venezuela may march according the campaign against arms trade cat lobbies end arms sales repressive governments in joint statement eu ministers said legal basis individual travel bans eu freezing venezuela assets bloc used gradual flexible manner expanded representatives maduro government due meet investors cracks monday discuss negotiating billion foreign debt some eu governments want give former spanish prime minister jose luis rodriguez zapatero eu main envoy venezuela another chance try negotiations despite unsuccessful efforts but statement ministers said regional elections held venezuela turning point hardened bloc position taken place amid reported numerous irregularities the results appeared favor maduro ruling socialists polls suggested opposition would easily win majority in end handful governorship according electoral board eu ministers decide target sanctions later stage said would focus security forces government ministers institutions accused human rights violations democratic principles rule law experts say individual sanctions spearheaded president donald trump providing strong symbolism little impact maduro policies financial sanctions may way force venezuela government change worldnews