Luxembourg MEP Tilly Metz tweeted her strong disagreement with the initiative (386 to 236 and 59 abstentions), with which its promoters were seeking to accuse Cuba on human rights and thus weaken Brussels-Havana relations and torpedo the deal.

For Tilly Metz, the resolution is counterproductive because the EU must continue working together with Cuba regarding human rights issue, based on the agreement signed in 2016.

The Spanish socialists in the European Parliament also supported the agreement, as they described it ‘the best tool the EU has to back Cuba on its opening process.’

In this regard, the socialists insisted that the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba is a stable framework for rapprochement, which enables ‘critical, demanding and politically respectful relations, including issues closely related to human rights and concerns for individual freedoms.’

pgh/Pll/msm / wmr