Brussels, 23/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission rapidly discussed the political situation in Cuba. Loyola de Palacio urged the Commission to react after the wave of repression against Cuban dissidents and intellectuals, whereas Anna Diamantopoulou was more moderate, stressing that there are human rights violations elsewhere in the world. Commission President Romano Prodi noted these interventions saying that the discussion would be gone into in greater depth next week in the presence of Development Commissioner Poul Nielson and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.
Several Member States are contemplating reducing their cooperation with Cuba, European diplomats posted to Cuba say, reported by the Reuters Agency in Havana. "It is now a matter between Member States of reducing contacts with Cuba …, we are discussing in Brussels on suspending high level contacts", one European diplomat said. The Commission is to present an assessment of the situation in Cuba in June as well as its opinion on its candidacy for signing up to the Cotonou Agreements with the ACP countries. "It is difficult to imagine that this opinion will be favourable, if there is no improvement in the situation on the ground", it is commented at the Commission.