STATEMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE’S POWER
The International Relations Commission of the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP) strongly rejects the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on July 12, following the debate held on June 13 in that body, regarding the statements of the European Council and the European Commission, and the status of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union (EU) and Cuba, following the visit of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, Josep Borrell to Havana last May, on the occasion of the Cuba-EU Third Joint Council.
The International Relations Commission of the ANPP emphasizes that the European Parliament lacks the moral, political and legal authority to judge Cuba. As in previous resolutions on Cuba approved by the current legislature, the text is highly intrusive, defamatory not only about the Cuban reality, its legal system and rule of law, but also with respect to the ties that Cuba sovereignly maintains with other States, in strict compliance with international law. Furthermore, it reflects the double standard in making value judgments on issues that the European Parliament pays no attention to in the territory of its own member states and in other parts of the world. The silence of the European Parliament on the resurgence of fascism could be understood as complicity.
The debate that underpinned that resolution evidenced a strong ideological bias on the part of a group of conservative and extreme right-wing MEPs, some with well-known ties to anti-Cuban politicians in the United States, whose purpose is to hinder the current relations between Cuba and the European Union based on the ADPC signed by the 27 Member States. To accomplish their purpose, they attempt to ignore the results of the Cuba-EU Third Joint Council held last May 26, and distort facts, data and figures. They willfully lie to question the positive course of relations between Cuba and the European Union in various areas, including cooperation.
The debate, in which high-level representatives of other institutions such as the European Council and the European Commission made statements, showed both the validity of the ADPC to advance in the development of mutually beneficial relations, as well as the worthlessness of unilateral and meddling stands that in the past have hindered dialogue and cooperation.
We appreciate the position of those MEP’s who, in strict adherence to evidence and historical truth, denounced that threatening the ongoing dialogue and cooperation is a menial allegiance of the European ultra-right wing to the policy of the US Administration against the Cuban people, universally rejected every year at the United Nations General Assembly.
This resolution contributes to US attempts to isolate Cuba internationally and justify its genocidal blockade that has inflicted so much harm upon the Cuban people for more than 60 years. Furthermore, it is an attack against the companies of the European Community that invest or are interested in investing in Cuba and it expresses the will of ultra-right wing and related political forces to deprive the European Union of its own and independent policy on Cuba.
We alert that adopting this Resolution that singles out a Latin American and Caribbean country is a violation of the principles of respect, inclusion and cooperation under which the Third CELACEU Summit, to be held in Brussels in the next few days, is being convened and can cast doubts on the objectives of the European Union that is seeking to relaunch its relation with Latin America and the Caribbean.
We call on the MEP’s to respect the Cuba-EU Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, the commitment made by its Member States, and the stand of other EU institutions such as the European Council and European Commission, as well as to listen to the broad sectors of the European societies who advocate for consolidating the dialogue and contributing to exchanges and collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Havana, July 12, 2023.