The European Union can no longer maintain normal political relations with the Cuban regime while political opponents remain imprisoned and systematic repression continues, ECR MEP Mariusz Kamiński said during Wednesday’s debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Ahead of Thursday’s vote on a resolution, Kamiński called for the immediate release of opposition leader Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí, both imprisoned following the 2021 anti-government protests and for the release of all political prisoners. He also called for targeted sanctions against those responsible for repression and the suspension of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.

“Once again, we are debating the brutal violations of human rights in Cuba. Once again, we demand that the communist regime release its political prisoners,” Kamiński said.

“The resolution we are going to adopt in their defence is dedicated in particular to the heroic defender of freedom Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí. But we remember all 1,339 political prisoners, among them women, minors and people suffering from serious illnesses,” he said.

“The entire Cuban nation is suffering under a degenerate regime that remains in power only through the brutality of its apparatus of repression. We can no longer tolerate normal relations being maintained with such a dictatorship. People such as Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel must be subject to sanctions,” he added.

Kamiński also renewed the call for the Commission to suspend the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba, saying:

“The European Parliament has already called on the Commission several times to immediately suspend the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between communist Cuba and the European Union. Parliament’s position on this matter is clear.

“Continuing to maintain this agreement is a political and moral disgrace! Viva Cuba libre!”