Cuba: Speech by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in the EP plenary on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell.

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Thank you, Madame President, Honourable Members of the [European] Parliament,

We appreciate the attention of this Parliament to the specific case of José Daniel Ferrer in Cuba. We have followed this case very closely and shared our concerns through the relevant channels. The European Union has on numerous occasions called for the release of all those detained for the mere expression of their views, including José Daniel Ferrer, and we have called for the respect for their fundamental rights and physical integrity during detention as well. Today, I reiterate this urgent call.

The European Union holds a long-standing and unequivocal position on the need to respect human rights in Cuba, as elsewhere. We expect Cuba to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms and respect the human dignity of all citizens, and to engage in meaningful dialogue addressing their grievances.

These concerns are consistently raised by the European Union in its critical yet constructive engagement with Cuba, both in Havana and in Brussels, within the framework of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. This agreement provides us with the essential space for direct dialogue on issues where we share similar views, but also on others where we have clear disagreements or even opposing positions. This includes particularly the European Union-Cuba Human Rights Dialogue for which the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights last travelled to Havana in November 2023.

We have underlined to the Cuban government our deep concerns about the detentions and disproportionate sentences handed out in connection with the demonstrations of July 2021. We have called for further efforts to improve transparency and due process, including allowing diplomats to observe trials.

We will continue to express our concerns and call for significant improvements in human rights, in line with Cuba's responsibilities as an elected member of the Human Rights Council, and as enshrined in Cuba's constitution.

Human Rights will remain an important component of our critical but constructive engagement and agreement with Cuba.

And we are convinced that frank, direct dialogue with the Cuban authorities is the best way to defend our interests, promote our values and encourage political and economic reforms.

Thank you.

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