The ECR Group has strongly condemned the continued political repression and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cuba during a plenary debate in the European Parliament initiated with the support of the ECR Group.

During the debate with High Representative Kaja Kallas, ECR Members called on the European Union to suspend the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with Cuba, arguing that the regime has systematically violated the human rights commitments that formed the basis of the agreement.

Mariusz Kamiński, ECR MEP and co-initiator of the debate, denounced the brutality of the Cuban regime and questioned the EU’s continued engagement with Havana.

He said: “Communism in Cuba is in its final agony. Only brutal force keeps the regime in power. It has no democratic or moral legitimacy to govern the Cuban people.

“Continuing to uphold this agreement amounts to legitimising a criminal regime. The communist dictatorship in Cuba must fall — and this is precisely the moment for it to happen.”

Carlo Fidanza, ECR MEP and Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EUROLAT), highlighted the worsening humanitarian conditions on the island and the plight of political prisoners, saying: “After the March protests, the names of the arrested Cubans have been shared around the world. Among them is Jonathan Muir, 16, detained despite serious health problems that raise fears for his life. There is Erich Padrón, a bricklayer ‘guilty’ only of asking for food and dignity in a video on social media. Along with them, there are over 1,260 political prisoners.

“Europe must choose which side it is on: either with the tyrants, or with the dissidents; either with the Castro dictatorship, or with the Cuban people.”

Adam Bielan, ECR Coordinator in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), pointed to the regime’s imprisonment of dissidents, including minors, and criticised the Commission for maintaining the EU-Cuba agreement despite repeated calls from Parliament to suspend it.

He said: “The Cuban regime currently holds almost 1,300 political prisoners, including minors. Among those incarcerated, almost half suffer from serious medical conditions.

“Stop legitimising the communist Cuban regime. Stand for the freedom of the Cuban people and political prisoners.”

The debate will be followed by a European Parliament resolution, which is expected to be voted on during the June plenary session.