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The Cuban regime and the European Union (EU) will meet next Wednesday to organize a new round of talks amid criticism over the arrest of opposition leaders José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro.
The meeting in Brussels marks the fourth cycle of political dialogues between both parties and opens the fifth, following the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (ADPC) of 2016, Efe reports.
The meeting comes amidst doubts from member countries that reflect the criticisms from independent organizations.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), for example, lamented the "outdated view" of the EU regarding what is happening in Cuba.
The OCDH stated that the Agreement has yielded no results in terms of human rights and called on the EU for "greater creativity, firmness, and changes in the structures related to Cuba."
Prisoners Defenders also joined the criticism, lamenting that the Agreement grants the island's regime the prerogative to veto representatives of civil society, which has led to its failure in achieving its most significant objective, the protection of human rights.
Prisoners Defenders raised the number of political prisoners on the island to 1,155 individuals in April, concludes the report
Other criticisms
Recently, Cuban activist Carolina Barrero Ferrer urged the European Union (EU) to adopt a more coherent and firm stance against the Cuban regime, which she accuses of being a strategic ally of Russia in Latin America.
In an interview with the German network Deutsche Welle, Barrero criticized the complicity of the EU with the Cuban government, stating that this attitude contradicts the values of freedom and democracy that Europe upholds in other contexts, such as in the case of Ukraine.
"What we ask of Europe is coherence. It's very simple: if Europe is in the midst of a war defending values such as freedom and democracy, and supporting Ukraine, one cannot be condescending towards a dictatorship that is the most important strategic ally of Vladimir Putin in Latin America, which sends mercenaries to Ukraine…," the activist stated.
Vice President of the European Commission defends maintaining Agreement
At the beginning of last May, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, Kaja Kallas, defended in the European Parliament the continuity of the political dialogue and cooperation agreement with the Cuban regime, despite reports of human rights violations and calls for its suspension.
During a debate held on May 6 in Strasbourg, Kallas dismissed the arguments from conservative and far-right MEPs advocating for the activation of the safeguard clause of the agreement in place since 2016. “We didn't have the agreement before 2016, and there was no democracy either. So it doesn’t matter whether there is an agreement or not,” she stated.
Kallas stated that the agreement does not by itself guarantee a democratic change on the island, but it provides a necessary framework for dialogue to address sensitive issues such as the situation of political prisoners. Referring to the imprisoned opponents, José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, he questioned: “Will suspending the agreement free Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro? I think we all know the answer.”
The head of European diplomacy also wondered whether the Union can limit its interactions solely to established democracies: “Do we have the possibility to interact only with perfect democracies? We do not. And that is why we also have these dialogues, to precisely discuss those very difficult issues.”
In response to accusations regarding alleged funding to the Cuban government, Kallas stated: “We do not support the regime. We are not channeling our funds through the Cuban government. We have partners in Cuba, European projects with United Nations agencies, and NGOs. What we support is ecological transition and the modernization of the economy.”
Kallas's statements came amid increasing pressure from Cuban civil society and members of the European Parliament to suspend the agreement with Havana.
Frequently asked questions about the dialogues between the European Union and Cuba
Why is there criticism of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba?
The Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba has been criticized for its lack of results regarding human rights. Organizations such as the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights and Prisoners Defenders believe that the agreement has failed to protect human rights on the island and allows the Cuban regime to veto representatives of civil society. Additionally, the EU's lack of consistency is criticized for maintaining diplomatic relations with a regime considered an ally of Russia, in contrast to its stance in conflicts such as that in Ukraine.
What is the current situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
As of April 2025, there are reported to be 1,155 political prisoners in Cuba. This figure has been documented by organizations such as Prisoners Defenders, which have also denounced irregularities in the release process announced by the Cuban regime. This process has been described as "opaque, arbitrary, and unfair," and it has been noted that many released individuals continue to face restrictive conditions, without assurances that they will not be detained again.
What is the European Union's stance on the Cuban regime?
The European Union defends the continuity of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba despite criticisms regarding human rights violations. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has argued that the agreement provides a necessary framework to address sensitive issues such as the situation of political prisoners. While it does not guarantee democratic changes on its own, it is regarded as a strategic tool to maintain dialogue with the Cuban regime.
How has Cuban civil society reacted to the dialogue between the EU and Cuba?
The Cuban civil society has expressed its discontent and urged the EU to suspend the agreement with the Cuban regime. Activists like Carolina Barrero have criticized the EU's complicity with the Cuban government, calling for consistency in its foreign policy. Human rights organizations and independent feminist groups have demanded the suspension of the agreement, arguing that it legitimizes an authoritarian regime and does not contribute to improving the human rights situation on the island.
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