The European Parliament is gearing up to vote this Thursday, June 18, on a resolution addressing the "political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba" during its session in Strasbourg, as revealed by the organization Ciudadanía y Libertad via Instagram.
As of today, leading parliamentary groups are racing against the clock to finalize a unified text, synthesizing various proposals introduced by diverse European political factions. The vote is scheduled to occur between noon and 2:00 p.m., following a debate set for Wednesday, June 17.
Key Issues Under Scrutiny
The focal points of the resolution include the plight of over 1,200 political prisoners, the humanitarian crisis fueled by power outages and the shortage of food and medicine, and the future of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union and Cuba.
The European People's Party (EPP) is advocating for Brussels to consider suspending the agreement with Havana unless the regime takes concrete steps toward democratization, releases political prisoners, and upholds fundamental rights. Their proposal also includes sanctions against those responsible for repression and executives of the military conglomerate GAESA.
Divergent Political Views
Renew Europe supports a similar stance, urging the application of individual sanctions under the EU's Magnitsky regime against those accountable for human rights violations on the island.
Conversely, the text put forth by the Socialists and Democrats alongside the Greens criticizes the human rights situation in Cuba but partially attributes the crisis to the tightening of U.S. sanctions, advocating for enhanced cooperation within the framework of the existing agreement.
Historical Context and Ongoing Advocacy
This vote comes after years of persistent pressure from Cuban civil society urging the EU to activate the PDCA's human rights clause. In January 2026, the European Parliament approved an amendment with 331 votes in favor to reevaluate and potentially suspend privileged cooperation with Cuba, citing human rights abuses and Cuba's support for Russia.
In April 2026, activists such as Carolina Barrero and Amelia Calzadilla traveled to Brussels to demand the suspension of the agreement and individual sanctions. Calzadilla confirmed that the EU had begun reviewing the PDCA following civil society's efforts.
By May 2026, the EU's High Representative Kaja Kallas confirmed to the plenary session that the PDCA was under review, while MEPs like Gabriel Mato argued that the EU should feel "ashamed" for maintaining the agreement without democratic outcomes.
On June 10, Spanish MEP Hermann Tertsch (VOX/Patriots for Europe) mocked a pro-regime Cuban event organized by the Cuban Embassy in Brussels, describing it as poorly attended: "four cats and a drum."
The final content of the resolution will depend on the political groups' negotiations before Thursday's vote, marking the culmination of over a decade of pressure from the Cuban opposition and civil society on European institutions.
FAQ on the European Parliament's Resolution on Cuba
What is the main focus of the European Parliament's resolution on Cuba?
The resolution focuses on political repression, the humanitarian situation, political prisoners, and the future of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.
What actions are being proposed by the European People's Party?
The EPP suggests suspending the agreement with Cuba if there is no progress in democratization, release of political prisoners, and respect for fundamental rights, along with proposing sanctions against those responsible for repression.
How do the Socialists and Democrats view the situation in Cuba?
They criticize the human rights situation but also attribute part of the crisis to U.S. sanctions, advocating for strengthened cooperation within the current agreement framework.