Spanish MEP Hermann Tertsch addressed the European Parliament yesterday, harshly criticizing the dire situation in Cuba. He urged the termination of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Havana, stating that the Cuban regime is "closer than ever to collapse."
Tertsch, a member of the Patriots for Europe group affiliated with the VOX party, remarked, "This regime is now on the brink of collapse, due to its catastrophic general failure that yields only misery, fear, hunger, and death."
The parliament member expressed frustration that, after 67 years of communist rule, the European Union continues to uphold an agreement that, in his view, has offered the regime "a veneer of legitimacy and millions of euros from European taxpayers."
Directly addressing the commissioner present at the debate, Tertsch questioned whether European funds truly reach Cuban civil society: "Who do you know in Cuba to truly believe that any of that money goes to civil society and not to party organizations that terrorize the people or to the mafia-like groups at the top of the dictatorship?"
He also accused the agreement of providing "precious oxygen to a dying regime, allowing it to further spread its tentacles of violence, crime, and subversion throughout Latin America."
During his remarks, Tertsch recalled that opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer and writer Zoe Valdés had addressed the European Parliament, both urging U.S. intervention to dismantle the regime—a stance he described as the only one with "common sense" and "compassion" for the Cuban people.
Ferrer, exiled from Cuba in October 2025 after a hunger strike in Mar Verde prison, testified before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on May 5, describing Cuba as being in "the worst crisis of its modern history," and labeled the EU-Cuba agreement as "an aspirin for a terrible cancer."
Tertsch's intervention took place during a parliamentary debate that also included EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, who warned Cuba that "a negotiated reform today is preferable to a collapse tomorrow."
This parliamentary pressure is not new. On May 11, Tertsch announced that Patriots for Europe would formally introduce a resolution to immediately suspend agreements with Cuba, a move driven by VOX within the group.
In January 2026, the European Parliament had already approved an amendment with 331 votes in favor to review and suspend cooperation with Cuba, citing the presence of over 1,076 Cuban combatants in Ukraine and the misuse of European funds in repressive structures.
According to Prisoners Defenders, Cuba had 1,260 political prisoners as of the end of April 2026, with 785 in actual detention.
The European Parliament is scheduled to vote in June 2026 on a resolution concerning Cuba as a result of this debate, with Tertsch hoping to bring about the definitive end of an agreement that, in his words, turns those who uphold it into accomplices: "Anything else is complicity with crime."
Insights into the EU-Cuba Political Agreement
What did MEP Hermann Tertsch say about the Cuban regime?
Hermann Tertsch declared that the Cuban regime is closer than ever to collapse due to its comprehensive failure, which has resulted in widespread misery, fear, hunger, and death.
Why does Tertsch criticize the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement?
Tertsch criticizes the agreement for providing the Cuban regime with a facade of legitimacy and millions of euros from European taxpayers, which he argues do not benefit Cuban civil society but rather the regime's repressive structures.
What are the implications of suspending the EU-Cuba agreement?
Suspending the agreement could cut off a significant source of financial support and political legitimacy for the Cuban regime, which could accelerate its collapse and potentially lead to more democratic reforms.
What role does the European Parliament play in this issue?
The European Parliament is actively debating the future of the EU-Cuba agreement and is expected to vote on a resolution that may call for its suspension, reflecting ongoing concerns about the regime's human rights record and its impact on Latin America.