The signatories of the July 14 declaration reiterate our strong condemnation of the violent response of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to the peaceful movement of July 11, 2021, which resulted in hundreds of arbitrary detentions, injured civilians, forced disappearances and torture, and at least one death performed by the Cuban regime.

Once again, we express our support and commitment to the Cuban people, as well as to freedom and democracy in Cuba and in all Latin American countries, who are increasingly threatened by movements that do not respect the rule of law.

The undersigned recall and reiterate the historic European Parliament Resolution passed by a large majority on September 16, 2021, requesting the European Union to:

• Implement the procedure under the article 85, paragraph 3, letter b) of activation of the suspension clause of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba (PDCA) for the repeated and systemic violation of human rights, and to immediately convene a meeting of the Joint Committee due to the infractions performed by the Cuban government, the noncompliance of the essential elements of the Agreement, that means, the not respect of the democratic principles, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
• Make use of the provisions of the General Sanctions Regime of the EU and adopt sanctions against the persons and entities responsible for human rights violations in Cuba.
• Immediately remedy the situation in which civil society is excluded from access to cooperation funds and from participation in the Agreement, while, on the other hand, participation and access to such funds are allowed exclusively for companies in which that the State participates or controls, as has been the case since the Agreement was signed.

We also recall the European Parliament Resolution of September 19, 2019 condemning the horrible crimes committed by communists throughout Europe without exception, and condemning acts of aggression, crimes against humanity and massive human rights violations perpetrated by communist, Nazi and other authoritarian regimes.
The undersigned, we urge, once again, the Cuban authorities to:

• Immediately release all those detained for exercising their fundamental rights.
• Immediately cease all violence, persecution, harassment, arbitrary detentions and continued attacks against peaceful demonstrators from July 11, 2021, such as the San Isidro Movement, independent journalists, members of the peaceful opposition and human rights defenders in Cuba as Cuba Decide, Prisoners Defenders and Asociación Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos, between others.
• Allow the entry and the unrestricted access of Members of the European Parliament to Cuba.

We request the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell to:

• Strongly condemn the continued repression by the Cuban authorities.
• Provide through the Delegation of the European Union in Cuba all possible assistance to people persecuted by the regime.
• Convene an urgent meeting with the Cuban authorities so that, in view of the systematic violation of the obligations and commitments agreed in the Agreement, the EU immediately implement the suspension mechanism provided for in the Agreement.
• Immediately cease the financial aid from the EU, which can end up in the hands of the Cuban regime, which have been consistently rendered, despite the past and present serious violations of human rights, taking special care not to harm the Cuban people.

Sincerely,

Hermann Tertsch, Member of the European Parliament

Leopoldo López Gil, Member of the European Parliament

José Ramón Bauzá, Member of the European Parliament