The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said in Havana on Friday 26 May that the EU Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, would be visiting the island in November to hold a dialogue on human rights in Cuba, as part of the EU-Cuba cooperation agreement signed in 2016.
Through this dialogue, “the EU has neither the capacity nor the desire to impose changes on Cuba”, said Mr Borrell. He stressed the importance of dialogue, while respecting the differences in viewpoints between the EU and Cuba, particularly with regard to democratic pluralism.
The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, noted that the human rights situation in the EU was not optimal, with “racism and discriminatory treatment of migrants”. She defended the development of a “right to food” in international forums.
On the subject of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, different sensitivities were expressed.
Mr Borrell spoke of an “existential” security crisis for Europeans. In his view, everyone wants peace, first and foremost the Ukrainians. But “we do not want Ukraine to become a second Belarus, a new satellite of Russia trying to recreate colonial spheres of influence”, he said.
Ms Rodríguez Camejo said that her country “firmly” defends the principles of the United Nations Charter and hopes for a diplomatic solution that respects the integrity of States. She nevertheless opposed “the policy of isolating Russia”, which “aggravates the current situation”.
At their third Joint Association Council, the EU and Cuba also discussed “new opportunities” for cooperation in renewable energies and the fight against natural disasters and pandemics. Mr Borrell stressed the need to help the 8,000 SMEs that are contributing to the economic modernisation of the Caribbean island. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)