ECR MEPs Hermann Tertsch (Spain) and Carlo Fidanza (Italy) received an official award from the City of Miami last week for their fight for freedom and democracy in Cuba.

Both representatives received a certificate and a medal at Miami City Hall from the hands of former mayor and current city councillor Joe Carollo, who paid tribute to the contribution of the ECR Group in the fight for freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Ibero-America.

In his speech, Mr Tertsch, Chair of the ECR’s Working Group for Democracy in Latin America (Eurolat), stressed that “the Cuban dictatorship has lasted 63 years not only because of the support of other dictatorships, but above all because of the support of many democracies in Europe as well as in America.”

Mr Fidanza added: ”Strengthening the relationship between the European Union and Latin America is a priority for us. We must stand together for liberty until and beyond the fall of undemocratic regimes across the American continent.”

The award of the two ECR MEPs in Miami took place as part of a delegation trip to Florida, where Mr Tertsch and Mr Fidanza visited organisations working to end communist rule in Cuba. They spoke with prominent Cuban exiles such as Rosa María Payá, Marcell Felipe, Orlando Gutiérrez and many others. On the trip organised by the ECR Eurolat working group from Sunday 14 November to Sunday 20 November, they also met with US politicians and officials such as Republican Congressman Mario Díaz Balart and Florida Deputy Governor Jeanette Nuñez, and spoke at a conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.