European Parliament calls for suspension of cooperation agreement with Cuba

The European Parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for the suspension of the political dialogue and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Cuba. The resolution, which passed with 374 votes in favor, 198 against, and 19 abstentions, cites the systematic repression of political opponents on the island.

Europarliamentarians demanded concrete and verifiable steps toward multi-party democracy and urged sanctions against those responsible for repression, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The text condemns human rights violations against political prisoners and their families, specifically highlighting the cases of 72-year-old Félix Navarro and his daughter, Saylí Navarro, both of whom were detained following the July 2021 protests.

The resolution also denounces the lack of fair trials, the use of torture during detentions, and the use of forced exile as a condition for prisoner release. According to reports cited in the debate, there are approximately 1,339 political prisoners in Cuba, including women and minors, many of whom suffer from serious physical or mental health issues without adequate medical care. Some members of the Parliament suggested that the 2016 cooperation agreement has failed to improve democratic conditions in the country.