Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) have an exchange of views with a representative of the European External Action Service on the situation in Cuba following the latest escalation in the repression of protests in Cuba. Statements by Željana ZOVKO, Vice-chair of AFET Committee, Javier NINO, Deputy Management Director for the Americas in the European External Action Service (EEAS) & Javi LÓPEZ, Chair of Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

statement

meeting

EU - Cuba (T)

ZOVKO, Željana (EPP, HR)

LÓPEZ, Javi (S&D, ES)

The situation in Cuba: extracts of the exchange of views with the EEAS - AFET Committee

Title: The situation in Cuba: extracts of the exchange of views with the EEAS - AFET Committee

SOUNDBITE (English), &#381;eljana ZOVKO (EPP, HR), Vice-chair of AFET Committee, This morning at Foreign Affairs meeting, we are gathering here to discuss the current situation in Cuba that is worrisome. We are calling for the stop of the violence against the protesters. We want the freedom to protest. We want the lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba to help people who are in dire need of food, but especially civil liberties because of what is going on in Cuba, for us, it's heartbreaking and especially the death of a person who used his democratic rights to protest. So Cuba is on the top of the agenda at today's Foreign Affairs Committee. And we will see with our colleagues what is the way forward. And we will also recommend to the High Representative to undertake the actions as soon as possible.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Javier NINO, Deputy Management Director for the Americas in the European External Action Service (EEAS), That resulted from a combination of factors that in this case have led us to a kind of perfect storm. Of course, there is the fact that Venezuelan support is less. Of course, there is the fact that the Covid pandemic is hitting very hard in Cuba. There is, of course, the fact that the American embargo continues to have a notable economic impact. This American embargo has been reinforced in a very significant way by President Trump, of course, and so far President Biden has not eased the measures that were imposed by President Trump. But, of course, a major cause of these demonstrations is undoubtedly the need for economic reforms. There is a need to make progress and development. So the Cuban manufacturing fabric is more effective and can produce more food. And so that other urgent and basic needs of the population are catered.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Javi L&#211;PEZ (S&amp;D, ES), Chair of Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, I think it is difficult that today we have all the information on all the elements necessary to know this, but that the discomfort is existing. A malaise that we have seen throughout the region because it was the region most impacted by Covid, by the pandemic. Secondly, I think it is very relevant to have a platform to be able to talk to the authorities in Cuba because now we have to say things honestly, we have to also warn them about things that are not doing well, passing messages and denouncing some elements that we can see on the ground. And honestly, the prospect of not having a platform to talk to the Cuban authorities and that we dedicate ourselves to sending public statements, would have as a result a weaker influence from us.